The Patriots went into the 2026 offseason on a high note, even if they were freshly off a Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks, because their first year under Mike Vrabel went far better than anyone could have predicted. It brought a new sense of optimism that had been missing for years, and it was the first time the future looked bright due to the roster and the coaching staff.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the defense showed up and showed out, improving from one of the worst groups in the league a year before to a top-10 unit, and their performance against the impressive Seattle offense proved that beyond any doubt.
The offense had its struggles, but with Drake Maye under center and a receiving corps led by Stefon Diggs, they looked like the most promising group the Patriots had since Tom Brady was the starting quarterback.
So when the team decided to release Diggs after just one season, fans reacted strongly and immediately felt it was a mistake. There was a chance he could return, as rumors linked the Patriots and Diggs for much of the last several months, but he ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Commanders last week.
Making matters worse is that he's already stealing the spotlight at Washington's training camp, making headlines for winning every 1-on-1 rep, and that's only further fueling fans' feelings about the decision to let him go.
Stefon Diggs is already making it easy for the Patriots to regret cutting him ahead of free agency
Sharing that excitement over the past week was Dean Jones of Riggo's Rag, who is already declaring Diggs' performance as a reason for the Commanders to feel vindicated with their decision to sign the veteran receiver.
There were a lot of initial questions about doing so, considering he was coming off a postseason that was mostly forgettable, and there have been countless rumors about his personal life.
But what matters in the eyes of football coaches and owners is what they can do on the field, whether that be good, bad, or indifferent: it's clear that Diggs is showing he can be a solid weapon for Jayden Daniels this fall, no matter what's going on with him on or off the field.
The receivers have stood out for all the right reasons at practice so far and add another explosive option for Daniels, who already has Terry McLaurin lined up as his top pass catcher. Pairing them together should make a massive difference for their offense, and that's something the Patriots could have had instead.
Although there should be excitement over what A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs can do as their newest duo, many people believed Brown and Diggs would've been more lethal. They had the potential to really put the Patriots' offense over the top, especially if Diggs took a backseat and served the WR2 role instead.
Based on how he played down the stretch last season, that probably would've been the best decision for the team, and the pair would have the potential to be the best 1-2 punch the Patriots have had in a very long time.
But now that's something the Commanders will have, and surely the more Diggs impresses at camp and that translates to the regular season, the more difficult it will be not to regret the decision to let him go, even if the Patriots' offense thrives, too.
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