After seemingly ignoring their biggest offensive need for most of the early stages of free agency, the Patriots finally made a move by signing wide receiver Stefon Diggs to immediately make him the WR1 the team had been lacking. Although there have been numerous concerns regarding his readiness for the season due to an ACL injury suffered last year, his offseason training seemed to indicate that it wouldn't be a problem, even if most of the work was being done away from the Patriots' facility.
Less than a week away from the start of training camp, however, that doesn't appear to be the case, according to The Athletic's Chad Graff, who reported that the receiver is likely going to start his Patriots tenure on the physically unable to perform list (PUP). That means he will miss the first four games of the year.
It's certainly not an ideal situation for New England nor Drake Maye, even if they have 12 receivers currently signed to the roster. None are expected to be able to replace the kind of production Diggs is projected to bring, so that could force Mike Vrabel and Co. to make a last-minute move for another offensive weapon.
The Patriots might need to explore their wide receiver options if Stefon Diggs can't start the season in Week 1
Although the current receiving corps is already miles better than it has been in years, Diggs was set to be Maye's go-to player on game day, so missing the first four games of the season would create a predicament the new regime might need to address as soon as possible.
There is a chance that a training camp superstar will rise in the ranks over the next month, potentially even rookie Kyle Williams. But relying solely on the output of an inexperienced player might not be the wisest decision for the Patriots to make.
They could explore the remaining free agents, hoping to find a new team for the upcoming season, with the most interesting of names being Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen. While neither would likely replicate the kind of production Diggs would have, they're both trusted veterans with impressive pasts and could easily fill the veteran void in Diggs' absence.
There is also the chance of pulling off a blockbuster trade, especially since things between the Commanders and Terry McLaurin don't appear to be in a good place nor near reaching an agreement on an extension. That would be a much bolder move to make just to add reinforcements in Diggs' wake, but McLaurin would be a solid option for the team long-term, which Diggs is not expected to be.
It's a lot for Vrabel and Eliot Wolf to consider over the next few weeks once Diggs' immediate future becomes clearer. They'll have to determine if they are comfortable with the talent they have and if they can live up to the standard they want for Maye with the veteran sidelined, if that's the inevitable future.
If not, we could be in for a suprising move that brings another big time name to Foxboro.