The New England Patriots have finally signed a wide receiver for quarterback Drake Maye, but many believe they overpaid. However, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel disagrees with this perspective.
In a recent discussion on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast, Vrabel outlined the team's reasoning for signing Stefon Diggs to a 3-year, $69 million contract, with $26 million guaranteed.
Coach Vrabel on what the addition of Stefon Diggs means for the Patriots pic.twitter.com/AMgQJYbVP1
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) March 27, 2025
As expected, the primary goal was surrounding their franchise quarterback with talented receivers. Vrabel stated, "(We're) just trying to make sure we're supporting Drake (Maye) and supporting the football team. And again, this is a highly competitive, confident receiver that's produced throughout his career."
He continued, "His conversation, his demeanor, his attitude, and his presence have been, you know, great through our conversations. And hopefully, we can, you know, continue to add good players."
In 2024, Diggs started eight games for the Houston Texans, recording 47 receptions for 496 receiving yards and three touchdown catches on 64 targets.
Diggs began his career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he had 365 receptions, 4,623 yards, and 30 touchdowns in five seasons. He was then traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2020, quickly establishing himself as one of the league's top wide receivers. During his four seasons with quarterback Josh Allen, Diggs amassed 445 receptions, 5,372 receiving yards, and 37 touchdowns.
While giving $69 million to a 31-year-old receiver coming off an injury may seem excessive, there is reportedly an "out" in the contract after the first year, making it essentially a one-year deal. That helps if things do turn sour.
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This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.