When the Patriots signed Stefon Diggs in free agency, it was undoubtedly a high-risk, high-reward type of move. Diggs has been one of the top receivers in the NFL for several years, but some flaws - mainly how he wore out his welcome in Buffalo - popped up in recent years. The fact that he tore his ACL at the age of 30 with the Texans last season certainly didn't help.
Teams weren't exactly clamoring to sign Diggs, which ultimately proved to be good news for a New England team that lacked an actual number one wide receiver for the last several years.
Diggs often tormented the Patriots when he faced them as a member of the Bills, so the organization was certainly familiar with what he can do on the field. They also viewed him as a great locker room guy who could mentor the young pass-catchers.
Diggs is one of multiple players across the league due for a bounce-back season, according to CBS Sports' Joel Corry. Diggs' contract is loaded with incentives, and if he wants to stick around Foxborough for the duration of the three-year deal, he'd better earn some of them.
Stefon Diggs' resurgence will be essential for Patriots' offense
The Patriots' offense was lacking of playmakers over the last two years, and the signing of Diggs was one of many factors that hopefully addressed that. Diggs obviously got ahead of the eight-ball during his rehab and will be on the field when the Patriots take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye needed help, and Eliot Wolf delivered. Diggs not only gives the Patriots a viable outside threat but also opens up opportunities for other wide receivers. Look for big years from the likes of DeMario Douglas and Hunter Henry.
Even if that does happen, Diggs needs to have a quality season if the Patriots are going to be successful on offense. They didn't bring him in to be a decoy. They brought him in to be the number one wide receiver the Patriots haven't had since Julian Edelman.
A 70-catch, 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown type of season from Diggs is a reasonable expectation.
If Diggs can't get out of neutral, neither will New England's offense. But if Diggs can shift back to where he was when he was with the Bills, opposing defenses will take notice.