Player Signing Patriots Sign WR Stefon Diggs

[PatsFan2]

Diggs is coming off knee surgery, the good news is he got injured halfway through the year and had surgery immediately. Hopefully by mid to late season this year he'll start to ramp up and improve. Project his numbers out over a full season last year and he would have had roughly 1000 yards and 6 TD's. He's not a "#1" anymore, but might still be a good WR.

But he's on the wrong side of 30, coming off an ACL tear, but nobody wanted to come to the Pats either so it's a match made in heaven. 26 million is not too egregious, they needed someone. If they really want to put their foot on the gas they should sign Amari Cooper as well.

Sign a free agent tackle as well, the only guys left will also be reasonably priced.

I like the Cooper reference: it also seems like the Colts are shopping Alec Pierce.

 

[imahobgoblin]

A lot of people have suggested that we trade down, but if Carter and Hunter are gone, I don't see how this is possible? Which team in their right minds is going to trade up for, say, Campbell.

If Hunter is gone and Carter is available at 4, then trade down and get a boatload of picks. This roster cannot be fixed with a single pass rusher.

If Hunter is available, entertain offers, but I think that in the end you should take him.

If Hunter and Carter are gone, then good luck finding a trade partner. You will, alas, have to take Campbell who seems like a safe but unspectacular pick. This seems like the most likely scenario. Why the heck did the Patriots beat the Bill?????

This is exactly what got us into this mess in the first place. If you had not noticed, drafting over the last 10 years has been atrocious. The value of getting more picks has outweighed the value of one pick. If a guy like Cater is there, you take him. I love BB, but Drake May would not be out QB if he drafted last year. There is no boatload of pics in this draft. The roster has to be fixed one player at a time. When one has pro-bowl potential, you don't pass on him for mediocrity.

 

[Wozzy]

I like the Cooper reference: it also seems like the Colts are shopping Alec Pierce.

Pierce would be a great pickup, the Colts haven't been able to pass the ball but he has produced and he's a plus athlete with size and speed. He'd be worth a mid round pick.

 

[PatsFan2]

Diggs is coming off knee surgery, the good news is he got injured halfway through the year and had surgery immediately. Hopefully by mid to late season this year he'll start to ramp up and improve. Project his numbers out over a full season last year and he would have had roughly 1000 yards and 6 TD's. He's not a "#1" anymore, but might still be a good WR.

But he's on the wrong side of 30, coming off an ACL tear, but nobody wanted to come to the Pats either so it's a match made in heaven. 26 million is not too egregious, they needed someone. If they really want to put their foot on the gas they should sign Amari Cooper as well.

Sign a free agent tackle as well, the only guys left will also be reasonably priced.

One thing of note about Diggs unlike some other older WR's he has a later birthday. Diggs won't turn 32 until the end of next season. So until then he's 31 to me: I think most WR hit that cliff @ 33.

 

[PatsFan2]

This is exactly what got us into this mess in the first place. If you had not noticed, drafting over the last 10 years has been atrocious. The value of getting more picks has outweighed the value of one pick. If a guy like Cater is there, you take him. I love BB, but Drake May would not be out QB if he drafted last year. There is no boatload of pics in this draft. The roster has to be fixed one player at a time. When one has pro-bowl potential, you don't pass on him for mediocrity.

Preach Sister preach: that's the reasonable goblin we know and not that other fiesty one.

 

[Steve102]

@Thelonious

You wanted us to use our words. Here you go:

Stop being such a grumpy old bastard. Every time you say you hate "these asinine video clips" you put a target on yourself. Guys like me can't resist pushing your buttons.

They are called gifs, an acronym. Graphical Interchange Format.

Welcome to the 21st century.

 

[Ross12]

Given that even some of the initial reports said “up to” $69M, I’m interested to see what the actual base value is. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s closer to three years, $45M, with $8M incentives per year. $26M fully guaranteed could mean $13M guaranteed plus $2M roster/workout bonuses in each of the first two seasons.

Or it could be a legit $23M per year with $26M guaranteed in year 1. I’ve been surprised a few times already this offseason.

I’m guessing it’s something like

2025: $1M salary fully guaranteed, $15M signing bonus, $8M in incentives/workout bonuses
2026: $10M salary fully guaranteed, $7M in incentives/workout bonuses
2027: $21M base salary, $7M in incentives/workout bonuses

 

[Real fan 02]

You can smell Josh McDaniels behind these WR moves. Josh loves Vets over Rookies Mac Hollings now Diggs I dig.

Yes!!.. bring the young guys along slowly.. there is no pressure on Polk and baker..

 

[Real fan 02]

You can smell Josh McDaniels behind these WR moves. Josh loves Vets over Rookies Mac Hollings now Diggs I dig.

 

[Froob]

I’m guessing it’s something like

2025: $1M salary fully guaranteed, $15M signing bonus, $8M in incentives/workout bonuses
2026: $10M salary fully guaranteed, $7M in incentives/workout bonuses
2027: $21M base salary, $7M in incentives/workout bonuses

25M for SB mvp, 10M if he’s MVP

 

[Wozzy]

One thing of note about Diggs unlike some other older WR's he has a later birthday. Diggs won't turn 32 until the end of next season. So until then he's 31 to me: I think most WR hit that cliff @ 33.

I identify as ten years younger than I actually am.

You will accept me as the age I identify as, otherwise you're an ageist... which is akin to a nazi.

Don't be a nazi.

 

[RobertWeathers]

My concern with any of the deals they are making right now is always about the 27’ season, and how the deal will impact them then. I don’t really care about the money because they should be trying to utilize as much of that as possible. This deal won’t harm them in any way this year, and we are all pretty much hoping they will be in the hunt for a wild card spot. In 26’ I think the expectation will be to be a playoff team, and hopefully contend with Buffalo for the East title, and most of these deals should be fine on the cap in 26’ as well. What I don’t want to see are 3-4 year deals with big money that will count on the cap in 27’, and the player isn’t worth it, and becomes a dead money hit right at the time where they will want to free up cap space to make signings that will make them a serious Lombardi contender. So deals with guys like Bradbury and Diggs, who are basically band aids they will be looking to improve upon over the next two offseasons should be either over, or painless to remove from the payroll. As long as the money is freeing up for the 27’ off-season it’s ok with me..

Agree completely. This is why those of us who believe the NFL actually has a hard salary cap want the NEP to be in a great position to add talent in the coming years by not doling out stupid contracts which kick the cap hit can down the road and limit their flexibility.

My hope on the Diggs deal is it's essentially a 2 year $35m deal and the "guarantee" is similar to Aiyuk's where they can cut him if needed in 2026, not pay the other 1/2 if his "guarantee", realize some short-term dead money hit, and regain 100% of that cap space for 2027.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Yes!!.. bring the young guys along slowly.. there is no pressure on Polk and baker..

I think there is some pressure on these guys. They did nothing last year and if they do nothing this year do you give them a roster spot in year 3?

 

[Thelonious]

@Thelonious

You wanted us to use our words. Here you go:

Stop being such a grumpy old bastard. Every time you say you hate "these asinine video clips" you put a target on yourself. Guys like me can't resist pushing your buttons.

They are called gifs, an acronym. Graphical Interchange Format.

Welcome to the 21st century.

They are childish. They are asinine. They are an alternative to actual thought followed by actual expression. Perhaps your post demonstrates the dismal results when those who suffer from a need for such crutches attempt to express themselves in an adult manner, using words. It might indeed be best for you to stick to posting pictures. As for your adolescent compulsion to "push the buttons" of those who do not share your limitations, that is an embarrassment you would do well to overcome.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yes!!.. bring the young guys along slowly.. there is no pressure on Polk and baker..

Quite frankly they need to feel the pressure. If they can't handle competitive pressure and expectations to perform then we don't want them on the team.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

Love this very much - a real #1 in who knows how long plus a force that should make the younger WRs better.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Given that even some of the initial reports said “up to” $69M, I’m interested to see what the actual base value is. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s closer to three years, $45M, with $8M incentives per year. $26M fully guaranteed could mean $13M guaranteed plus $2M roster/workout bonuses in each of the first two seasons.

Or it could be a legit $23M per year with $26M guaranteed in year 1. I’ve been surprised a few times already this offseason.

Yep. Key thing to learn is the signing bonus amount and 2025 earnings are allocated to future years.

Anything after that is subject to change.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think there is some pressure on these guys. They did nothing last year and if they do nothing this year do you give them a roster spot in year 3?

When I mentioned pressure meaning they were asked to be focal points on offense coming in as rookies.. both polk and bakers had fantastic camps last year. Starting off with Brissett who can't throw pass the line of scrimmage and when you aren't seeing targets affects rookies.

Seen as how N'Keal Harry stuck around for 3 plus seasons and Tyquan Thornton as well I think they both have some time.

 

[Ross12]

The roster locks (or near locks):

Diggs (X/Z/Slot): Roster lock
Hollins (X): Roster lock
Douglas (Slot): 80% locked

After that I think all of these guys are battling for 2 or 3 spots, with potential for draftees to be added too:

Bourne (Z): bit older, less effective post injury, but knows the offense, good character
Boutte (X/Z): produced OK last year but was a ghost in similar offense in year 1 under BOB
Polk (Z/Slot): can be used more naturally this year, will he pick up offense? Probably still has decent trade value
Baker (X): IMO, worth keeping around at back-end and developing as he has talent to (eventually) be pretty good; could just as easily be cut

 

[BobDigital]

And for anyone curious... my best guess on current cap available to spend (cause we don't have all the numbers) is between 20M-10M in usable cap... not counting money needed for the PS or draft picks. This also assumes some but not all incentives are hit by players.

So they can afford some more OL help before the draft.