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FanSided

Patriots: Stealing one player from every AFC East opponent

By Patrick Morgan

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) C.J. Mosley #57 of the New York Jets in action against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on October 21, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 33-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) C.J. Mosley #57 of the New York Jets in action against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on October 21, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 33-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to their NFC Divisional Round Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to their NFC Divisional Round Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Buffalo Bills – WR Stefon Diggs

Ahhh, what could have been…

Patriots fans have had Stefon Diggs on their wish list for several seasons now — especially as it became more and more apparent that he wanted out of Minnesota fast.

Diggs seemed like he was destined to team up with Tom Brady and become the latest in a long line of impressive receiver imports that came either via trade or free agency (Randy Moss, Brandin Cooks, Josh Gordon, etc.).

Crazy as it seems, Brady left for Tampa Bay and Diggs was traded to Buffalo on the exact same day — March 20, 2020. Coincidence? Perhaps … but it’s not ludicrous to suggest that Diggs may have known ahead of time that Brady wasn’t sticking around, and as such, he didn’t want to be a Patriot in 2020.

It’s New England’s loss either way — Diggs is an incredible talent.

Still just 26 years old, he has one of the brightest futures in the NFL. In five seasons as a pro, he has yet to play less than 13 games in a year. He’s also been increasingly productive each year, never finishing with less than 700 yards receiving and posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns the last two years.

He would immediately elevate the Patriots receiving depth chart in a major way. With Diggs on one side stretching the field, Julian Edelman in the slot and working the middle, and N’Keal Harry outmuscling defenders on the other side of the formation, New England would once again have a significantly imposing receivers room.

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