Patriots fans just got a $12M reason to question the team's Stefon Diggs decision

The New England Patriots’ decision to cut ties with Stefon Diggs this offseason was met with some backlash. He brought much-needed energy to what had been a stagnant Patriots offense and forged an immediate connection with quarterback Drake Maye. 

But with an eye on getting younger and more explosive at the position, the Patriots opted to cut Diggs in March prior to $6 million of his 2026 salary becoming fully guaranteed. While framed as a cap savings move at the time, the real benefit for New England was the $21.7 million in cash that was freed up to spend elsewhere. 

Diggs’ long free agency stint finally ended on Wednesday, with Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reporting that the former Patriot was signing a one-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Washington Commanders. 

The words "up to" should matter to Patriots fans more than anything. Depending on the guarantees, Diggs’ market seemed to fall well into the ballpark where New England should have been comfortable with bringing him back.

Stefon Diggs’ initial contract details with Commanders feel like a miss for the Patriots 

New England was obviously ready to move on from the Diggs experience. While he brought undeniable juice to the Patriots’ sideline, he also brought enough distractions off the field to compel head coach Mike Vrabel to move on.

But both Vrabel and GM Eliot Wolf left the door open for Diggs to potentially return to the team on a new deal. “I would never say no,” Vrabel told reporters in June. 

If the Patriots had a number in mind for Diggs, it must’ve been quite low. We won’t get the full details of Diggs’ one-year contract with Washington for a few days, but an incentive-laden deal with a max value of $12 million feels like a steal.

Diggs turned a team-high 102 targets into 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns for the Patriots last year. His 83.3% catch rate led all qualifying NFL receivers. He flashed a strong enough rapport with Maye to justify staying in Foxboro on his original deal, never mind his new one.

New England’s decision to pass on Diggs at a lower rate feels more like a nod to its current wide receiver depth. The team could have a hard time parting with any of its top seven of Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. Adding Diggs back to the mix this late in the process would have created a major logjam.

But visions of Brown and Doubs on the boundaries, with Diggs as the main slot receiver? That would have ranked as one of the scariest wide receiver groupings in the NFL — and the Patriots definitely could have made it happen now that Diggs’ market has been revealed.

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