Is Stefon Diggs really gone for good?
The New England Patriots kicked off free agency this week with the news that they were parting ways with wide receiver Stefon Diggs. In what was one of the biggest player movement stories league-wide, the Patriots would move on from Diggs before they owed him guaranteed money for 2026.
By creating cap space, the Patriots were able to pursue a wide receiver like Romeo Doubs, whose style of play has been compared to Diggs. This move highlighted the team's need for a player whose career trajectory was still on the rise, and Doubs fit that profile.
Patriots VP of personnel Eliot Wolf spoke with the media on Thursday, as did all the newly signed free agents to the team, as well, including Doubs and newly signed veteran safety Kevin Byard.
Wolf was asked about Diggs' departure from the team and even teased the idea that the door for the 32-year-old receiver could still stay open ahead of next season.
“I wouldn’t say the door’s closed,” Wolf said when asked about Diggs. “I mean, again, we’re gonna look through every way we possibly can to help improve the team.”
Diggs led the team with 85 catches in 2025, with 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. He became the first Patriots player to hit the 1,000-yard mark since Julian Edelman in 2019.
The wideout also became a vocal leader on the team all season. Diggs would be seen before games rallying his teammates, chanting what would become the team's catchphrase in 2025, "We all we got; we all we need."
Sources around the NFL Combine had mentioned that if the Patriots and Diggs were to break up this offseason, it would be due to the Patriots asking Diggs to restructure and Diggs declining. Many feel that was the case as the team owed Diggs $26.5 million in total next season.
It turns out those factors were what actually led the team to decide to depart from Diggs, as Wolf essentially said on Thursday.
“Just a variety of factors,” Wolf said. “Looking at financials, ability, a lot of things go into this, and we have nothing but respect for Stefon. He was an absolute warrior for us, as I said to him multiple times after games, and just really appreciate all his contributions to the team.”
As of right now, Diggs has not signed with a new team for 2026. The Patriots now have their current roster, along with the Doubs acquisition, and the buzz is still in the air about a potential A.J. Brown trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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