There was a time when Stefon Diggs was thought of as a clear-cut top-10 receiver in NFL circles. His career took off in Buffalo, where he turbocharged a young Josh Allen, and the Patriots are hoping he can do the same thing for Drake Maye in 2025.
But Diggs certainly has some work to do to get back to that caliber of a past-catcher. He wore out his welcome with the Bills at the end of the 2023 season, and his 2024 campaign with Houston was cut short due to a torn ACL. Diggs wasn't exactly a sought-after free agent until the receiver-needy Patriots gave him a three-year deal this offseason.
Bleacher Report's Adam Wells recently listed his preseason list of the league's top 10 pass catchers, and Diggs wasn't anywhere to be found on the list. Maybe that gives Diggs some extra incentive to prove that he's still a top-tier pass catcher in the NFL.
Can Stefon Diggs get back to top-10 status by the end of his first year with the Patriots?
Diggs has worked hard during the offseason to get himself ready to potentially be on the field in Week 1, somewhere the Patriots need him to be, especially with a lot of new faces on the offensive side of the ball. Procuring a number one wide receiver was near the top of New England's offseason priority list, and if Diggs can be that guy, it wouldn't be surprising to see him inch up towards the top 10 by the end of the season.
At the age of 31, and coming off a serious knee injury, it could be asking a lot of Diggs to be a deep threat right away. The first couple of games may be an extended preseason for him - assuming he's on the field to start the season and not on the PUP list - but the combination of the way he's handling the tough New England media and his work ethic on the field are good signs.
Josh McDaniels' offense is heavily reliant on plays after the catch, so look for Diggs to try to add that to his playmaking abilities. If he can have a 1,000-yard, eight-or-10 touchdown type of season, it'll be hard not to consider him for a Top 10 slot by the time the season concludes.
McDaniels will find ways to get Diggs the ball, and Maye knows that Diggs is probably going to be one of his top playmakers on offense. The Patriots' success on that side of the ball will certainly be determined by what Diggs does in the passing game.