At the start of the 2026 offseason, the Patriots shocked everyone when they decided to release wide receiver Stefon Diggs just one year into his three-year contract. He was coming off a season that ended with over 1,000 receiving yards, becoming the first receiver since Julian Edelman in 2020 to reach that feat, and he had become a solid go-to WR1 for Drake Maye.
Because there wasn't much depth beyond him on the roster, there were a lot of questions about whether it was the right decision, with plenty of rumors suggesting he might return on a newly renovated contract.
That remained a talking point throughout the summer, with Diggs and the Patriots consistently keeping the conversation going with subtle hints about his return.
Of course, once he signed with the Commanders, there was no more chance of that happening, and now we're hearing just how good he's looking for another 2024 first-round quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Although the Patriots rewarded Maye with Romeo Doubs in free agency and a trade for A.J. Brown, the idea of Diggs being part of that receiving corps was too good for fans to pass up. And apparently, it was just that: too good to be true.
Now the Commanders are reaping the benefits of having Diggs on their roster, learning quickly what Patriots fans knew all along.
There's a good chance the Patriots will have to watch Stefon Diggs thrive with an NFC contender this year
Obviously, there are plenty of reasons the Commanders decided to sign Diggs to be their next WR2 behind Terry McLaurin, so it's not exactly surprising that they're already liking what they're seeing.
But the latest quote from head coach Dan Quinn sums up the kind of player the receiver is and always has been, something Patriots fans got a good look at throughout the 2025 season, and it's something they'll surely miss this fall.
"I knew he was a competitor. I didn't know how good the fire was."
That fire was on full display during Diggs' lone season in New England, and it greatly impacted the team on both sides of the ball. He developed a close bond with Christian Gonzalez, and the pair would exchange mid-game tips about what they were seeing from their opponents, giving them a leg up.
That's another benefit Washington will now have, on top of already having an impressive quarterback and a solid wide receiver room for Diggs to walk into.
Based on what we saw from him last year, he will surely be a reliable option for Daniels to work with, potentially even more so than he was for the Patriots last year, since he will take a backseat to McLaurin instead of being the main target for his quarterback.
He could very well be on the brink of one of the best seasons of his career, and the Patriots will have to just sit back and watch.
Fortunately, they have Brown on the roster now, and he is projected to do the same; plus, Doubs is expected to play a major role in this year's offense, too. So they're not lacking in talent with Diggs gone.
However, having Diggs on the team with Brown and Doubs is still an idea that's hard to pass up. Instead, he'll thrive elsewhere, and hopefully, the Patriots' receivers will do the same in Foxboro.
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