Last week, Stefon Diggs visited the New England Patriots as he heals from ACL surgery he had about four months ago. Before his injury last October, Diggs was on track for his seventh straight season with over 1,000 receiving yards. There’s hope that he’ll be ready by Week 1, according to NFL insiders.
Diggs was traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans during the last offseason. The trade was part of a strategy by Texans’ GM Nick Caserio, who has ties to the Patriots. His history includes former Patriots staff members, including the Texans’ wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels and Pats receivers coach Todd Downing. These connections might help Diggs settle in quickly with the Patriots.
In 2024, before his injury, Diggs was among the top receivers in the league, ranking second in ESPN’s receiver score metric. Over eight games, he recorded 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns. If this pace continued for a full season, he would have reached 100 catches, over 1,000 yards, and six touchdowns—a solid performance by any standard.
Diggs previously played a vital role in the growth of Bills quarterback Josh Allen. After joining Buffalo in 2020, he led the entire NFL in receptions and receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl every season with the team. He was particularly challenging for the Patriots, averaging about 82 receiving yards and scoring seven touchdowns across eight games against them. Even last season as a Texan, he caught six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown against New England.
Bringing Diggs on board makes sense for the Patriots, who are looking to strengthen their wide receiver lineup. They’ve been eyeing other big names like Chris Godwin and Cooper Kupp, but securing Diggs could be a game-changer. The team has a young quarterback, Drake Maye, and they hope Diggs will make a significant impact as he did with Allen in Buffalo.
In addition to Diggs, the Patriots’ receiver ranks include Bourne, Mack Hollins, and younger players like DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. Given Diggs’s injury recovery, it’s possible the team may still look for another receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Diggs’s arrival is a notable step forward.
As the Patriots have struggled to find a top receiver for a while, landing someone like Diggs could be crucial for their future success, especially as they aim to support their promising young quarterback.
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