Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings huge receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and New England Patriots huge receiver Stefon Diggs (8) meet after the sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photographs
Stefon Diggs is a free agent, was simply discovered not responsible of assault costs by a Massachusetts jury, and performed for the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons a decade in the past. In response to Bleacher Report, he might be a primary goal for the Vikings, a membership with a WR3 emptiness.
The reunion would carry manufacturing, familiarity, and expertise.
Diggs’s free company will doubtless warmth up now that his authorized woes are within the rearview. Minnesota can’t be dominated out of the sweepstakes.
Diggs Joins a Crowded Listing of Vikings WR3 Choices
Would you welcome the reunion?
Minnesota Vikings huge receiver Stefon Diggs jogs throughout a highway matchup in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Discipline. On Dec. 2, 2019, Diggs remained one among Minnesota’s premier offensive weapons whereas serving to energy the Vikings passing assault throughout a high-scoring primetime battle in Seattle. Necessary Credit score: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports activities.
BR: Vikings Make Sense as a Diggs Touchdown Spot
Proper after the draft, BR’s Joseph Zucker sized up Diggs’s employment choices in 2026, and the Vikings had been talked about.
He wrote, “The Kansas City Chiefs are in a much different spot organizationally. They’re aiming to contend despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovering from a torn ACL. Like the Raiders, the Chiefs didn’t take a receiver until Day 3. Cincinnati’s Cyrus Allen went in the fifth round, so signing Diggs to a short-term contract makes sense for Kansas City.”
“Would one of Diggs’ old teams consider a reunion? Jordan Addison has yet to make a true breakthrough with the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s depth really falls off once you get past him and Justin Jefferson as well. The Vikings have one quarterback on a one-year contract (Kyler Murray) and another who may be heading into a make-or-break season (J.J. McCarthy). Bringing Diggs back to Minneapolis has some merit.”
The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins would possibly make sense for Diggs, as effectively.
Vikings’ Want for a WR3
The Vikings had a WR3; his title was Jalen Nailor. However he’s from Las Vegas, and when the Raiders dangled a fats contract in entrance of him in March, Nailor dipped. He’s a Raider. Then, the Vikings, outfitted with 9 draft picks in 2026, picked zero huge receivers final month, regardless of intensive scouting of the place.
That leaves Tai Felton, a Third-Rounder from final yr, who, primarily based on draft inventory, ought to be able to roll because the WR3. There’s one drawback: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chosen him, which means he might be one other instance on a protracted checklist of draft gaffes. Felton performed 26 offensive snaps final yr. It’s unclear if that was by design, with the Vikings able to peel off the tape in 2026 — or if Felton seemed like a buffoon behind the scenes.
No Nailor. No rookie WR draft picks. A blended outlook on Felton. These parts create the theoretical want for a WR3.
Minnesota Vikings huge receiver Justin Jefferson and Houston Texans receiver Stefon Diggs trade jerseys following a sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Throughout the Sep. 22, 2024, matchup in Minneapolis, the 2 star receivers shared a postgame second after competing in one of many NFL’s extra anticipated interconference contests of the common season. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
“They’d also be joining the Vikings’ new QB, Kyler Murray, who is in prove-it mode himself. It’d be a shock to see Minnesota make it to the new season without some kind of WR addition. At this point it’s a matter more of ‘who’ rather than ‘if.’”
Diggs’s Manufacturing Final 12 months
Diggs made an instantaneous impression in his first season with New England. Lower than a yr after tearing his ACL, he began each sport and shortly turned Drake Maye’s go-to goal, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns. Such instant and high-level manufacturing usually results in a swift contract extension.
Retaining Diggs would have offered the Patriots with a beneficial bridge to the longer term, notably in the event that they aimed to draft a rookie huge receiver. The technique is frequent throughout the NFL: pairing a younger receiver with an skilled veteran to foster their improvement collectively.
Even in 2025, Diggs remained a game-changer. Amongst all NFL wideouts who ran at the very least 50 routes, he ranked eighth in whole EPA (Anticipated Factors Added), a key metric for offensive impression. Gamers delivering that degree of manufacturing are uncommon, even at 32 years previous.
New England Patriots huge receiver Stefon Diggs speaks with reporters following minicamp contained in the WIN Discipline Home at Gillette Stadium. On June 10, 2025, Diggs addressed the media whereas persevering with preparations for his first season in New England and constructing chemistry with the Patriots’ evolving offense throughout offseason exercises in Foxborough. Necessary Credit score: Eric Canha-Imagn Photographs.
If he popped off for 1,013 yards final yr in New England, he can for rattling positive tabulate 700+ this yr in Minnesota. New England might also make it easy and re-sign Diggs, now that he beat the allegations.
The WR Choices
Keenan Allen
Tyreek Hill
DeAndre Hopkins
Jauan Jennings
Deebo Samuel
Nearly all, together with Diggs, would carry a level of pleasure and previous Professional Bowl taste.
Diggs’s free company ought to warmth up as quickly as now.
Editor’s Observe: Shortly after this text was printed, Jennings signed with the Vikings.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
