When the Patriots signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year contract this offseason, it was certainly a high-risk, high-reward type of move. Diggs is a 31-year-old receiver coming off a torn ACL and wore out his welcome in Buffalo a couple of years ago, but when he's on, he's one of the top receivers in the game.
And if the Patriots' offense is going to soar to new heights this season, they'll need the Diggs, who was a constant problem for opposing defenses during his time with the Bills. When he arrived in Buffalo in 2020, it turbocharged Josh Allen's career, so perhaps Diggs can do the same for Drake Maye in his second season.
If that happens, the Patriots' receiving corps will undoubtedly be improved. If not, it could be right back to square one.
Stefon Diggs will be the Patriots' biggest X-factor this season
According to PFF, Diggs remains one of the top 10 most valuable receivers, despite his age and his recent injury. The Patriots need him to bounce back, and some signs indicate that he has been working hard during his rehab and is on track to be ready for Week 1.
That would certainly be a welcome sign for a receiving unit that was one of the worst in the NFL last season, and could continue to flounder near the bottom of that pack if Diggs does not produce.
Maye needed a top receiver for his second season, and the new regime made sure to sign one to help elevate him to the next level. You'd have to assume that Diggs' presence on the field will open things up for the other playmakers - hello TreVeyon Henderson - so that could be another X-factor as well.
If Diggs can produce a 1,000-yard season, something a Patriots receiver has not done since 2019, and the team makes the playoffs, those factors would be the ultimate icing on the cake. If Diggs flops, this season could very well traverse down the disappointment highway. And Diggs should be hungry to produce after his 2024 season ended prematurely.