With the trade for AJ Brown looming and the Patriots remaining the top team to get a deal done, any talk about a Stefon Diggs return has been put on the back burner. Rumors suggest mutual interest between New England and the receiver, but little has been said about any conversations they've had about making it happen.
Instead, most analysts have said it's unlikely to happen, regardless of whether Brown makes the team. It's far from what Patriots fans were hoping for, since many were unhappy with Eliot Wolf's decision to cut him ahead of free agency, and it doesn't look like anything will be changing, regardless of how much Drake Maye could benefit from another top-tier option.
The latest update from Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer appears to confirm that, even if he mentions a scenario in which Diggs could be on the Patriots' radar a bit more.
Albert Breer slams the door on rumors of Stefon Diggs' return to the Patriots
For the most part, the prevailing view has long been that Diggs wouldn't suit up for the Patriots again this season unless they failed to complete a trade for Brown. Because he is still considered a WR1, it would clash with the plans for Brown to fill that role.
Breer mentions that in his latest Q&A, as the main reason Diggs hasn't returned, but does slip in that potential injuries during the 2026 season could open the door for it to happen.
"This is about overall fit. Diggs is 32 with plenty of injury history. A.J. Brown turns 29 next month and has a ton of mileage on his legs. Both are accustomed to being the focal point of an offense. The Patriots are also bringing in Romeo Doubs from the Packers, and have Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas back from last year’s team.
So if you become reliant on Diggs and Brown, and one or both go down, that’s not great. And there’s only one ball to go around. So, again, this is simply a fit thing. If injuries were to change the Patriots’ situation and Diggs were still available, I’d bet the door would stay open. But I don’t think it’s in the plans now."
Because injuries are never something you can plan for, it seems almost certain that Diggs will suit up with a different team this fall, and this is just the latest evidence that makes that beyond clear.
It's something Patriots fans will have to accept, unless a trade for Brown doesn't happen for some reason, and instead, look forward to those who will make up the receiving corps in 2026, like Romeo Doubs.
They should still be in a good position to thrive and be a better offense than they were last year, particularly if Brown is the go-to guy. Although Diggs would elevate them to a new level, it doesn't look to be in the cards anymore, so it's a dream we should probably give up on for good.
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