Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
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(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings need to find a WR3 for the 2026 NFL season after losing Jalen Nailor to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. As a result, there’s been speculation as to who could fill that role for Minnesota.
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, the Vikings could take that route to fill that WR3 need. However, they could also go the veteran lane and sign a player who won’t cost them much.
For CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, he predicts Minnesota will go for a familiar face in Stefon Diggs to fill the wideout role behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, should the veteran wide receiver resolve his legal trouble.
“Diggs’ legal trouble is likely why he remains available,”Podell wrote in his CBS Sports article published on April 3. “Hepleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges following an alleged assault of his personal chef. Diggs’ attorney, Mitchell Schuster, claims his client is ‘completely innocent.’
“If Diggs’ legal process is resolved, a homecoming to the Minnesota Vikings makes plenty of sense. Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, so there’s an opening at Minnesota’s WR3 spot after 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson and former first-round pick Jordan Addison.”
Diggs, who spent last season with the New England Patriots, recorded 365 receptions for 4,623 yards and 30 touchdowns in 70 games during his career with the Vikings,per StatMuse.
Vikings Could Benefit From Adding Stefon Diggs to Be WR3
Moreover, Podell believes that Diggs would benefit from being the third option for Minnesota, and giving potential starting QB Kyler Murray three reliable wideout options will provide the Vikings the best opportunity to reach the playoffs in the upcoming 2026 season.
“Kevin O’Connell wasn’t the coach in Minnesota when Diggs departed to the Buffalo Bills via a 2020 trade request, and he needs to get Minnesota back to the playoffs in 2026 after a disastrous 2025 with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback,“ Podell wrote.
“Providing Kyler Murray with three high-caliber wideouts would certainly be helpful toward that cause. Plus, Diggs wouldn’t have to work as hard to get open as he ages playing alongside Jefferson and company.”
Adam Thielen Talks About His Decision to Retire
If the Vikings were to go down this path and bring back Diggs for a second stint, he wouldn’t be the only wide receiver to return to Minnesota for another tenure in the last year. Adam Thielen returned to the Vikings last year for a brief stint before the team chose to cut ties with him.
Thielen has since retired and opened up about what went into his decision to hang up his cleats.
“I felt it in the way that the coaches looked at me and the management looked at me,“Thielen said during a March 27 appearance on KFAN. “When I went into year 10, it might have been after year 10, where I was like, ‘Oh, they don’t look at me as the same player, whether I believed it or maybe proved it or whatever.’
“I think there’s just this age and years that you kind of hit, and it’s like, ‘All right, we got to figure out a new role for him.‘ And they don’t necessarily look at what you’re actually able to do.”