{"id":901036,"date":"2026-05-25T17:33:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T17:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/901036\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T17:33:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T17:33:27","slug":"ex-patriots-wr-stefon-diggs-updates-his-future-what-it-means","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/901036\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Patriots WR Stefon Diggs Updates His Future: What it Means"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2234157895.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Stefon Diggs New England Patriots\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>With rumors about Stefon Diggs and the Washington Commanders swirling, he responded, giving the New England Patriots less of a chance to retain the star playmaker.<\/p>\n<p>After one successful season on the field, the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/new-england-patriots\/\" title=\"New England Patriots\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"275250\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New England Patriots<\/a> parted ways with star wide receiver <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/stefon-diggs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Stefon Diggs<\/a> early in March. Despite that, there have been consistent rumors since then that the two sides could end up coming back together.<\/p>\n<p>Except the Patriots aren\u2019t the only team that\u2019s been connected with Diggs this offseason. That has recently included the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/washington-commanders\/\" title=\"Washington Commanders\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"275251\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Commanders<\/a>, close to where Diggs grew up in Maryland. When asked about the rumors, Diggs was coy but seemed to be heading in that direction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what everybody is talking about right now. We gonna talk about it real soon though,\u201d Diggs\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kACEUtcVz5Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kACEUtcVz5Q\">said<\/a>, per ESPN\u2019s Mina Kimes.<\/p>\n<p>That would be another blow to any chances that Diggs reunites with the Patriots. As it stands now, New England has already added <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/romeo-doubs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Romeo Doubs<\/a> and is expected to add <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/a-j-brown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">A.J. Brown<\/a> to the receiving room, helping to replace Diggs after he was their most productive pass catcher a season ago.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, Diggs had 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Patriots. That amounts to 11.9 yards per reception, which was Diggs\u2019 personal best since 2022. In the playoffs, Diggs added another 14 receptions for 110 yards and another touchdown.<\/p>\n<p>There Have Been Rumors Stefon Diggs Could Return to the New England Patriots<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5986087\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5986087\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2249453251.jpg\" alt=\"Stefon Diggs New England Patriots\" width=\"782\" height=\"441\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5986087\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyStefon Diggs with the New England Patriots<\/p>\n<p>From the moment that Stefon Diggs was found not guilty in his trial this offseason, there have been rumors about where he could land for the 2026 season. That included rumors he might end up with the New England Patriots again.<\/p>\n<p>Certainly, several players made it clear that they would like to see him back with the Patriots. That included\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/christian-gonzalez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/christian-gonzalez\/\">Christian Gonzalez<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/bradyn-swinson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nfl\/player\/bradyn-swinson\/\">Bradyn Swinson<\/a>, who both <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/new-england-patriots\/christian-gonzalez-sends-message-stefon-diggs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">advocated for his return<\/a> to the team on social media.<\/p>\n<p>Fellow wide receiver Kyle Williams then added to those rumors. He previously changed his number to No. 8, the same that Diggs wore in New England, before changing his mind and switching it back. That led to excited fans pointing out that it opened the door for Diggs to return with his old number. However, Williams has since explained that it wasn\u2019t why he changed his mind.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">\u201cI just had a change of heart,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/pittsburgh-steelers\/dk-metcalf-nfl-news-germie-bernard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Williams\u00a0said<\/a>. \u201cAnd then my mom, she just didn\u2019t want to get a new jersey, so your boy moved a little too fast. But no, just a little change of heart. I\u2019m just happy that I\u2019m back on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adding Both Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown Would be a Financial Strain for the Patriots<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6044515\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6044515\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2244660889.jpg\" alt=\"Stefon Diggs New England Patriots\" width=\"782\" height=\"441\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6044515\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyNew England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">While it\u2019s great to dream about adding both A.J. Brown and Stefon Diggs, it\u2019s clear that the Patriots are more focused on Brown. Assuming that trade goes through, then the Patriots simply wouldn\u2019t also <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nfl\/new-england-patriots\/problem-a-j-brown-stefon-diggs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">be able to afford Diggs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">The Patriots have around $36 million in available salary cap space. Brown is going to cost about $23 million. On top of that, there is still some housekeeping, like signing first-round pick Caleb Lomu to his rookie deal, which is expected to cost about $4.5 million annually.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Most projections have Diggs ready to make about $10 million in 2026. So, the reality is that the Patriots would need to find a way to make room in their salary cap to also add Diggs. That\u2019s probably not something that they want to do right now, as they\u2019re already bringing in other options at receiver.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/danmorr96\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dan Morrison<\/a> After graduating from UMass in 2019, Dan Morrison quickly began a career in sports journalism and digital media. That has seen him work both as a contributing writer at several publications, as well as spending time on the National News Desk at On3. During that time, he has spent the majority of his time covering football, both at the college and NFL levels. Currently residing in Central Florida, his focus with Heavy is on the NFL. <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/danmorr96\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Dan Morrison<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty With rumors about Stefon Diggs and the Washington Commanders swirling, he responded, giving the New England Patriots&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":901037,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2050],"tags":[7,1167,249,2326,2094,6,208],"class_list":["post-901036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-england-patriots","tag-football","tag-new-england","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-newengland","tag-newenglandpatriots","tag-nfl","tag-patriots"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116636418618790858","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/901036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=901036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/901036\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/901037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=901036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=901036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=901036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}