Stefon Diggs has been a thorn in the side of the New York Jets for years now.
Ever since the current New England Patriots wideout was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2020 (from the Minnesota Vikings), he has played at an All-Pro level against Gang Green. In 10 career games against the Jets, Diggs has recorded 70 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns.
As the Jets prepare for another showdown against the veteran receiver, they, too, are searching for that kind of production from their offensive stars—with a level of consistency over the course of an 11-year NFL career.
Jets preparing for matchup against Diggs
Few receivers have been as consistent as Diggs throughout his career. Before he was reaching conference championship games with the Bills, he was a Pro Bowl-caliber player with the Minnesota Vikings.
In western New York, though, Diggs reached superstar status.
The reason above all else, though, has been the skill set he’s shown over the last decade of elite football.
“He’s smart, he’s confident, he’s highly, highly competitive,” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said of Diggs. “He understands how to win in zone and man coverage, and when you have a receiver of that caliber, usually the career kind of results in that of their yardage and the catches that they have.”
New York’s matchup against Diggs has been even more challenging since the receiver signed a free agent deal with the Patriots in the offseason. Following the Jets’ trade of All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, the team doesn’t have a top corner to contain the superstar.
And New England knows it.
In the first matchup between the two teams on Oct. 14, Diggs caught nine passes for 105 yards in New England’s 27-14 victory over New York. Unless the Jets are better prepared with Brandon Stephens and Qwan’tez Stiggers, the results could be more of the same on Sunday.
Model of consistency
New York has a wide receiver on their current roster with traits similar to Diggs, Garrett Wilson.
The Ohio State product is another shifty pass catcher who has been “quarterback-proof” throughout his career.
But as he recovers from a knee injury suffered early in the season, Wilson has had to sit and watch Diggs from the sideline. Much like Wilson, Diggs has played with a flurry of different quarterbacks.
He is best known for his work with Josh Allen and, more recently, Drake Maye, but his resume stretches well beyond that. Earlier stops included stints with Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, and Kirk Cousins, and throughout each chapter, he has remained the same Hall of Fame-caliber talent.
“He’s always been a high-level receiver in this League for a long time,” Glenn said. “When he was in Minnesota, to now, that doesn’t change.”
New York hopes Wilson will eventually have the career Diggs has. Until then, they have to worry about the receiver tearing their defense apart on Sunday.