New England Patriots extensive receiver Stefon Diggs speaks with reporters on the Santa Clara Marriott, answering questions forward of the championship matchup in California. On Feb. 5, 2026, Diggs addresses the assembled media whereas New England completes its last preparations and a focus builds across the veteran receiver earlier than soccer’s greatest recreation. Obligatory Credit score: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Photos.
There isn’t a higher WR2 within the NFL than Stefon Diggs. Supply? Him. Diggs used his YouTube channel final week to advertise himself in the summertime free-agent market after getting no nibbles for the reason that course of started in March.
Diggs has navigated uneven authorized waters in 2026, however after being discovered not responsible of strangulation in Massachusetts, he’s evidently able to play this season — and doesn’t suppose too many wideouts are higher than him.
Diggs’s 2025 Effectivity Retains the Gross sales Pitch Credible
Buffalo Payments extensive receiver Stefon Diggs indicators a soccer for a fan earlier than dealing with New England at Gillette Stadium, taking a second close to the sideline as pregame preparations proceed. On Dec. 26, 2021, Diggs provides a private contact earlier than Buffalo begins the AFC East matchup in opposition to the Patriots in Foxborough that afternoon. Obligatory Credit score: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Photos.
Diggs: I Can Be the Finest WR2 within the NFL
By no means shy about sharing his opinion, Diggs stated, “My opinion, I can compete with anybody. But take those top wide receivers as your 1s, right? You can’t name a No. 2 better than me. There’s not a No. 2 on a team — let’s presumably give people the credit and just say, ‘OK, you want to take the No. 1 spot away.”
“Name your No. 2 receiver right now, and tell me how much he makes, and then my last question is: Is he better than me? I brought myself here. Unfortunate at times, but I’m blessed. I’m going to be exactly where I’m supposed to be. … I’ll be fine, I know I’ll be fine.”
NFL coaching camps get cracking in about two weeks, and Diggs could possibly be the primary distinguished WR on many groups’ velocity dial if one in every of their playmakers goes down with an damage.
He’s Not Mendacity. Perhaps Exaggerating, however Not Mendacity.
The factor about Diggs’s take is that it isn’t out of left area. Different WR2s, like Tee Higgins and even Jordan Addison, are extra productive and youthful in expertise than he’s, however he’s no slouch, regardless of being effectively into his 30s.
Diggs amassed 85 receptions, 1,013 yards, and 4 touchdowns in New England final season, a implausible first act with the Patriots and a significant piece of New England’s in any other case underwhelming weapons corps. In fact, this offseason, the Patriots have proven no critical indicators of wanting Diggs again — possibly it’s the authorized malarkey — however he very a lot performed the a part of WR1 and proved he can submit WR2 numbers.
He completed eighth amongst extensive receivers in Whole EPA with 98.65, a testomony to his worth regardless of a comparatively mild workload in comparison with different WR1s. He ran solely 421 routes, significantly fewer than many gamers ranked above him. However, Diggs nonetheless surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and caught a powerful 83.33% of his targets.
Doable Locations
Primarily based on Diggs’s previous ties to coaches and basic managers, along with his hometown, this record of locations might transfer the needle for his eventual touchdown spot:
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions
Las Vegas Raiders
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Giants
Washington Commanders
If he landed in Miami or Las Vegas, Diggs would immediately grow to be that group’s WR1. Different spots, just like the Ravens and Commanders, would supply proximity to his hometown. Or, if he prefers to win a Tremendous Bowl, squads just like the Ravens, Lions, or Patriots would make sense.
Houston Texans extensive receiver Stefon Diggs carries the soccer in entrance of Indianapolis cornerback Jaylon Jones at Lucas Oil Stadium, working via open area throughout second-half motion. On Sep. 8, 2024, Diggs advances the play as Houston presses the Colts’ protection and appears to create one other productive possession on the street. Obligatory Credit score: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Photos.
His subsequent employer will doubtless signal him in a spread of $10 million or $12 million.
Diggs stated final month about the potential for signing with the Commanders, “I never realized how many fans there was back home until I was a free agent and people are like, ‘Are you going to come back home?’ Especially when they see me back here. I’ve been living here for my whole life. I’ve been living here for 10 years. They was just like, ‘Oh, we never see you.’ I was like, man, y’all wasn’t looking.”
“It’s a lot of hopes. We’re kind of figuring out, working through some things. I did have a small piece of me like, damn, it would be great to come home and play and play in front of the fans I used to play in front of as a young adolescent in college and just kind of doing something for the city. That definitely would be a moment. Hopefully, things do work out. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m kind of open right now.”
Vikings Not on the Record
Not way back this offseason, Diggs to Minnesota felt like an actual factor. The Vikings employed Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Tai Felton as their three predominant wideouts. However after April’s draft, Minnesota signed Jauan Jennings to a one-year deal, killing the reunion idea altogether. The Vikings not have room for Diggs except they wish to get unholy deep at extensive receiver, which simply doesn’t really feel doubtless.
Minnesota Vikings extensive receiver Stefon Diggs takes the sector in opposition to Seattle at CenturyLink Area, making ready for an additional snap throughout a Monday night time street matchup. On Dec. 2, 2019, Diggs works via the Seahawks’ secondary as Minnesota battles into the fourth quarter earlier than falling 37-30 in a high-scoring NFC contest that night time. Obligatory Credit score: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Vikings followers ought to take solace within the Jennings signing, although, as Jefferson, Addison, and Jennings characterize the membership’s finest extensive receiving threesome on paper since Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed.
Diggs will flip 33 in November.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
