There was a lot of pressure on Mike Vrabel and the new Patriots' regime as soon as free agency began to get a clear WR1 that the offense has lacked for several years. They were equipped with the most cap space in the league to spend, allowing them to explore far more options than they have in recent years, yet they didn't sign anyone until Stefon Diggs agreed to a contract.
It was a controversial choice from the get-go due to the 31-year-old coming off a season that abruptly ended due to an ACL injury. On top of that, his recent antics to get himself traded from the Bills were all too familiar to Patriots fans, who witnessed the drama unfold throughout the years leading to his trade to the Texans.
Concerns from analysts and fans about that kind of behavior following the receiver to Foxboro were the main talking points for much of the beginning of his tenure, and they were deservedly so.
But once it became clear that the injury wasn't going to hold him back and his new teammates had nothing but positive things to say about him, it was hard to suggest we were going to get the 2023 version of Diggs in New England.
Over the last few months, he continues to say all the right things, but is there room for doubt that his actions will live up to his words?
Stefon Diggs continues to disprove all of the negativity projected to engulf his Patriots tenure
Among the most storied parts of his time in Buffalo were the outbursts by Diggs seen during Bills' games, with perhaps the most memorable being their snow game in the playoffs. It was reported that the receiver had been frustrated with his lack of targets during the game, which was among the biggest worries for fans since his arrival in Foxboro.
Fortunately, we have yet to see any indication of that this will becom a problem for the Patriots. In fact, he emphasized the opposite to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging that he knows how a Josh McDaniels offense operates, and he won't necessarily be the most targeted pass catcher during each game.
Stefon Diggs said he knows he won’t be the lone focal point in Josh McDaniels’ offense, which likes to spread the ball around, and that he has no issue with that.
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) September 3, 2025
“It’s a different offense, and we’ve got a lot of weapons. I’m not going in there (demanding targets). Nah, it’s not… pic.twitter.com/rpzmRNnogY
Considering he was labeled a selfish player before even setting foot into Gillette Stadium, his statements and actions thus far are a complete contrast to that kind of attitude, which is certainly a welcome change.
Perhaps it's due to the understanding of what a McDaniels' offense is and how many wide receivers have succeeded despite not necessarily racking up 100+ yards in every game. That knowledge might have made it easier for Diggs to accept when signing the contract with the Patriots, as McDaniels' offenses are not a surprise to anyone at this point.
But, at the same time, there is plenty of room to keep in mind that Diggs has a history of being unhappy with his lack of inclusion in a game plan, and there is certainly a chance he could flip the switch at any moment, as he has previously done with the Bills and the Vikings.
While it shouldn't be at the forefront of anyone's mind, because Diggs hasn't shown any sign that he's not a good teammate or is adapting a selfish mentality since joining the team, his past shouldn't be ignored, either.
Things look good as gold so far, and the connection between him and Drake Maye is going to be exciting to watch this year.