Stefon Diggs: Contract

[stcjones]

I appreciate what Diggs did for us this year….great teammate….took some leadership from all reports and made some clutch catches. If they can restructure his contract somehow I would love to see him back ……but if not I could see the Pats trading him . Have to see what happens

 

[PYPER]

I appreciate what he did for us this year but he's not a true #1 and I don't want to pay him #1 money. We've got a much better receiving room than most of us thought going into the season. The kicker is the off field drama. He's a bit of a headache.

1) Boutte
2) Hollins
3) Kyle Williams
4) Pop Douglas
5) Chism

I'm looking forward to seeing Williams and Chism in year 2 but expect us to add some competition in the draft and free agency. Would love to see Chism beat out Pop for playing time.

 

[Real fan 02]

Diggs is under a 3-year, $63.5 million contract (up to $69M). The Patriots can move on with only $1.7 million to $8 million in dead cap, effectively making it a 1-year, $18.5M–$23M deal. His high 2026 cap hit of $26.5 million makes him a candidate to be released. Does anyone think he is worth $26.5 million? If released before June 1, 2026, the Patriots would save roughly $16.8M, with $9.7M in dead money.

Pay? Cut? Trade? Restructure?

We haven't had a 1,000 yard WR since Edelman... really think what Diggs was able to do coming off a serious knee injury at 30-31 years old where otherwise a player would probably retire... goes lost in the sauce sometimes.. shows his commitment to the game.

He made huge plays for Drake and the offense.. he's a leader on the field and in the locker room.. his value is far to important to this team.. honor his contract I say.. adding some more talent at WR and TE would allow Diggs to be even more effective..

 

[Real fan 02]

I appreciate what he did for us this year but he's not a true #1 and I don't want to pay him #1 money. We've got a much better receiving room than most of us thought going into the season. The kicker is the off field drama. He's a bit of a headache.

1) Boutte
2) Hollins
3) Kyle Williams
4) Pop Douglas
5) Chism

I'm looking forward to seeing Williams and Chism in year 2 but expect us to add some competition in the draft and free agency. Would love to see Chism beat out Pop for playing time.

I see your point.. but may I add Diggs coming off an major knee injury had 85 catches and over a 1,000 yards.. wich the closest WR listed above was Boutte.. none of them are number 2s even right now. At best they are 3s.. Diggs is a 1a at least. You keep Diggs and add at WR..

 

[KCSVEN]

Diggs should at a minimum be just as productive. Yeah, a year older but also 2 years removed from ACL, the first year back is a ramp up year and the second year is full strength (Joint homeostasis and strength typically normalize).
Though he's lost a step he makes up for it by being a great zone receiver which requires more smarts than athletic skill and his hands are all pro still.

Yeah, not a top level #1 receiver anymore as his explosiveness is not the same but he's the best receiver on the team.

Edelman tore ACL at 31, played 2 highly productive years at 32 and 33.
Godwin said his first year back was good but did not get explosiveness back until year 2 etc..

Everything points do Diggs being at least as good next year with a chance to be even better (2nd year post ACL, 2nd year in Josh system, 2nd year with Drake).
Outside of an AJ Brown trade not sure they can afford to not have Diggs on the team next year. If they need cap space they can look to restructure, if they don't, they can keep him and cut him after next year with minimal dead cap in 2027. I'm leary of pushing cap to 2027 if not absolutely necessary as that's the go for it all-in year for timing IMO.

March 13 is the date to guarantee 6 million in 2026. Right after free agency starts. We will know then what the plan is.

 

[Real fan 02]

I appreciate what Diggs did for us this year….great teammate….took some leadership from all reports and made some clutch catches. If they can restructure his contract somehow I would love to see him back ……but if not I could see the Pats trading him . Have to see what happens

The message and the culture Vrabel's built up would be off base if he chose to give a player that was productive less In Order to remain.. I think as fans we've become so conditioned from the previous regime to think we should ask players to restructure to remain.. we are still an up and coming team and we need to stockpile all the talent we can get. The best thing is to keep Diggs and add around him..

 

[OldEngland]

Theoretically the second year after the ACL repair is where a player truly gets their confidence back. Diggs injury was week 8 2024. I'd like to see Diggs again with Maye for 2026, even at that price. The reports of his presence in the locker room as a mentor was also very positive. Boutte, Williams, Chism, Douglas are all 25 or under.

Douglas, Boutte and Hollins are in the final year of their contracts. Chism is a bit of an unknown. Williams has only shown flashes. Be interesting what the plan is for the receiver room in 2026 and 2027.

 

[Family]

Diggs is not worth 26 million. Sorry he gave us a great season, but that's absurd.

Hopefully they can work something out because he deserves it, but ridiculous to tie up that money on a player the defense does not have to plan around.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

We rolled the dice with him and it worked almost beyond our wildest dreams. Productive player, no drama, and emerged as a team leader. Amazing! (I was a doubter) He's a keeper. Run it back with the receiver room as is, and put our attention in other spots of greater need.

 

[The Gr8est]

Diggs is in an interesting point. He'd EAT as a WR2 with someone else taking coverage off of him. But he's gonna be similar to an Edelman when injuries would cause receiving options to be scarce and he'd be the only threat on the field, effectively getting shut out.

I'd really like to see us give him a complimentary receiver that takes the load off his shoulders and load off his contract.

This is also one of those fork-in-the-road moments for him. Diggs enjoyed the spoils of this team all year but saw his unit lay an egg in the final game. These are typically the conditions where Diggs gets impatient, and also his personal life is with a thicket of strife right now.

But, again, if he is still as cool as he has been this year, another year removed from injury, and takes on a slight restructuring while we find someone who can take the load off him, that's the most ideal.

Of course, that's a lot of "if" - and also means little if we do nothing to address the OL problems.

Remember his personal life was an issue a couple of times last season.

Could the potential distraction not be worth it?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I appreciate what he did for us this year but he's not a true #1 and I don't want to pay him #1 money. We've got a much better receiving room than most of us thought going into the season. The kicker is the off field drama. He's a bit of a headache.

1) Boutte
2) Hollins
3) Kyle Williams
4) Pop Douglas
5) Chism

I'm looking forward to seeing Williams and Chism in year 2 but expect us to add some competition in the draft and free agency. Would love to see Chism beat out Pop for playing time.

If they cut Diggs like you suggest they'll be over $60M in cap space. If that ends up with Mack Hollins coming to camp as the #2 WR that's just malpractice. Absolutely zero reason why Maye should be given this WR group when resources are so plentiful.

if Diggs is gone then he needs to be adequately replaced. Boutte as a #1 WR Hollins/Williams/Pop/Chism competing for the rest when none of them really should be more than #4 WRs at this stage is just not aceptable.

 

[Family]

If they cut Diggs like you suggest they'll be over $60M in cap space. If that ends up with Mack Hollins coming to camp as the #2 WR that's just malpractice. Absolutely zero reason why Maye should be given this WR group when resources are so plentiful.

if Diggs is gone then he needs to be adequately replaced. Boutte as a #1 WR Hollins/Williams/Pop/Chism competing for the rest when none of them really should be more than #4 WRs at this stage is just not aceptable.

The message and the culture Vrabel's built up would be off base if he chose to give a player that was productive less In Order to remain.. I think as fans we've become so conditioned from the previous regime to think we should ask players to restructure to remain.. we are still an up and coming team and we need to stockpile all the talent we can get. The best thing is to keep Diggs and add around him..

The year after the first Super Bowl they tried to keep the team together and missed the playoffs. Bill said he always regretted that decision.

It makes sense for both sides to rewrite.

They can cut Diggs or trade Diggs at the end of camp, and save $20M. A rewrite can guarantee Diggs money/security this year, instead of giving the team a chance to find a cheaper (maybe even better) replacement. As time goes on receivers at Diggs level become available. He's no longer a guy who teams have to scheme around.

 

[Real fan 02]

Theoretically the second year after the ACL repair is where a player truly gets their confidence back. Diggs injury was week 8 2024. I'd like to see Diggs again with Maye for 2026, even at that price. The reports of his presence in the locker room as a mentor was also very positive. Boutte, Williams, Chism, Douglas are all 25 or under.

Douglas, Boutte and Hollins are in the final year of their contracts. Chism is a bit of an unknown. Williams has only shown flashes. Be interesting what the plan is for the receiver room in 2026 and 2027.

Excellent point.. we saw this with Brady. In 2010 we had a sensational offense with young Gronk, Hernandez with Brady coming off the ACL from 2008.. they are best set keeping the wr room in tact for continuity and development especially for Williams and chism.. adding at WR only helps the overall offense as whole.. TE is really the position they should look to get more dynamic at..

 

[TheRainMaker]

Diggs is not worth 26 million. Sorry he gave us a great season, but that's absurd.

Hopefully they can work something out because he deserves it, but ridiculous to tie up that money on a player the defense does not have to plan around.

Agree with everything except him having a great season.

If they cut Diggs like you suggest they'll be over $60M in cap space. If that ends up with Mack Hollins coming to camp as the #2 WR that's just malpractice. Absolutely zero reason why Maye should be given this WR group when resources are so plentiful.

if Diggs is gone then he needs to be adequately replaced. Boutte as a #1 WR Hollins/Williams/Pop/Chism competing for the rest when none of them really should be more than #4 WRs at this stage is just not aceptable.

The Pats exceeded expectations and made the Super Bowl despite the OL being trash. That can't continue. Would you rather apply the money towards an elite OL or give it to a soon to be 33 year WR going on year 2 of an ACL tear?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Agree with everything except him having a great season.

The Pats exceeded expectations and made the Super Bowl despite the OL being trash. That can't continue. Would you rather apply the money towards an elite OL or give it to a soon to be 33 year WR going on year 2 of an ACL tear?

If there were scarcity of resources, I'd rather invest in OL than Diggs, yes. But that scarcity of resources is made up. We currently have $40M+ of cap space. We aren't in an either-or position which is my point.

I'm ok with cutting Diggs but that brings us over $60M in cap space. If we have $60M in cap space there's absolutely zero reason why Diggs couldn't/shouldn't be adequately replaced. Just no reason why a team with $60M in cap space should let their #1 WR go and not replace him at all and go with such a lacking depth chart.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The year after the first Super Bowl they tried to keep the team together and missed the playoffs. Bill said he always regretted that decision.

That doesn't seem to make sense because they were virtually the same team through 2004. The reason why the 2002 team didn't make the playoffs was because of the schedule playing 13 of 16 teams with at least a .500 record, about half their schedule made the playoffs, two making the AFCCG with one of those teams making the Super Bowl. Other factors included fatigue and now they were the hunted. The NFL wanted to show they were a fluke as a they were the feel good story of 2001.

 

[Real fan 02]

The year after the first Super Bowl they tried to keep the team together and missed the playoffs. Bill said he always regretted that decision.

It makes sense for both sides to rewrite.

They can cut Diggs or trade Diggs at the end of camp, and save $20M. A rewrite can guarantee Diggs money/security this year, instead of giving the team a chance to find a cheaper (maybe even better) replacement. As time goes on receivers at Diggs level become available. He's no longer a guy who teams have to scheme around.

I understand what your saying... a few things of note. We had TB12 so that alone made BBs roster decisions alot more easier to make on guys.. we extended randy wich was a no brainer.. Diggs is in a similar situation..however he's under contract.. I don't see him leaving unless he truly wanted too wich he doesn't he wants to remain.

Vrabel will take care of Diggs is my inclination.. maybe a restructure that gives him more guaranteed money and moves some $$$ off the books.. there's so many ways it can done under the CBA..

Also that 08 team was old.. Bruschi, Vrabel, colvin, Rodney, and others.. it was inevitable that turnover was imminent.

We have a pretty good wr room.. you need continuing continuity as well as talented guys.. also Brady always took less for the overall good of the team... had Brady played in this era he would be 60m QB like Drake will become...

We don't need to totally undo the roster.. make contract offer to our FAs and extend them.. should they accept. Adding to what we already have and not subtracting is the strategy.. we see post about the OL.. however we got the to superbowl with 2 rookie OL after consecutive 4 win seasons.. they will also get stronger and better..

 

[jdlboot14]

I'm on the fence with Diggs. It was a VERY rare situation that a 32yr diva WR was a gold mine. But I don't know how long that can last.
IF they can restructure, then it might be nice to have some continuity - he is still a productive vet. But not at $26M. Re-work it to a 2/$36M base + incentive-laden deal. That protects us.

We are in a unique situation with so many young WR's on cheap deals - but we just can't count on Pop, Williams or Chism to be a real threat with a complete WR skill set. We need to pay some vet to be a dynamic WR1-ish. Don't know who.
Pierce, Jennings, or dare I suggest... Pickens ? (Vrabel might be the only HC that could make it work with him)

 

[Family]

Agree with everything except him having a great season.

The Pats exceeded expectations and made the Super Bowl despite the OL being trash. That can't continue. Would you rather apply the money towards an elite OL or give it to a soon to be 33 year WR going on year 2 of an ACL tear?

He did give us a great season.

We made the Super Bowl, and he was a team leader. The WR room gained confidence, and was completely different year to year, and he deserved much of the credit. There's more than just on the field statistics, which were pretty good.

I want Diggs on my team, but not for $26 cap. You can rewrite/guarantee for $20 this year, which is probably more than he's worth, and have it cost 10-12 on the cap.

If Diggs is thinking right, and not letting ego get in the way, which would tell me that it is time to leave, he should be on board too. It gives him security.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If there were scarcity of resources, I'd rather invest in OL than Diggs, yes. But that scarcity of resources is made up. We currently have $40M+ of cap space. We aren't in an either-or position which is my point.

I'm ok with cutting Diggs but that brings us over $60M in cap space. If we have $60M in cap space there's absolutely zero reason why Diggs couldn't/shouldn't be adequately replaced. Just no reason why a team with $60M in cap space should let their #1 WR go and not replace him at all and go with such a lacking depth chart.

At worst, his money should be applied towards another WR who can actually play the outside. This is something that many here continue to overlook. Why in the world would any team pay a guy limited to the slot $22.5M with a cap number of $26.5M? That is a terrible use of money.

When Welker walked, Amendola was supposed to be the replacement. But nobody saw Edelman emerging as that guy. Pats need to find a cheaper replacement in the slot who can actually shake man coverage which Diggs can no longer do.