14-07-2025
Can Stefon Diggs be the No. 1 WR the Patriots desperately need?
Editor's note: This is the ninth story in a 10-part series looking at the most intriguing New England Patriots players ahead of training camp.
Previously: Efton Chism, TreVeyon Henderson, Keion White, Kyle Williams, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Will Campbell and Christian Gonzalez
The Patriots' search for a No. 1 wide receiver took a bit longer than expected before they eventually signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year contract a couple of weeks after free agency began.
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So far, his tenure has been … interesting. Diggs drew the scorn of his head coach and captured the attention of the league when he was seen distributing an unknown substance on a boat around the same time his teammates were beginning voluntary practices. But he also impressed the team at minicamp with mentorship of younger players and routes that suggested he might be ahead of schedule on his rehab from an ACL tear.
In short, there is plenty to talk about when it comes to Diggs. So, what should the Patriots expect from him in 2025? What can he do for an offense that badly needs a jumpstart? And what if the Pats are wrong about his ability to return from a serious injury? Let's break that down in the second-to-last story of this series examining the most interesting Patriots players before camp.
Diggs was a five-star recruit out of high school who decided to stay close to home after the passing of his father and played college football at Maryland. Two injuries (a broken leg and a lacerated kidney) there slowed his production and his NFL prognosis, causing him to slip to the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
He proved to be a difference-maker for the Minnesota Vikings early, but he blossomed into a star after his postseason game-winning reception dubbed the Minneapolis Miracle. Starting in 2018, he posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in six straight seasons, mostly on the back of incredible route running. He doesn't have the size of a Mike Evans or the speed of a Tyreek Hill, but Diggs makes up for it with precision route running that, in his prime, might've been the best in the NFL.
After the Vikings traded him to the Buffalo Bills early in 2020 (amid Diggs making his displeasure with the former franchise known), he put together his best year during his first season in Buffalo — 127 receptions for 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns.
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However, following four years with the Bills, he wore thin his welcome and was traded to the Houston Texans, where he played eight games last season before suffering a torn ACL.
Diggs doesn't just have familiarity with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme — it helped bring out the best seasons of his career. While in Minnesota, he was deployed in various roles, from working in the slot to being Minnesota's deep threat all while playing under five offensive coordinators in five years.
But in Buffalo, Diggs thrived under then-OC Brian Daboll. And Daboll, of course, used a playbook largely developed with concepts from his time working under Josh McDaniels in New England.
Now, Diggs re-enters that scheme with McDaniels back as Patriots' offensive coordinator. So, even if Diggs' practice reps are limited this summer, he shouldn't face a steep climb in mastering the playbook.
'These are the same routes I've been running,' Diggs said in June.
We could take the easy way out and point to his past production. However, the biggest reason for hope so far has been a recovery that seems remarkably speedy. It's risky to put too much stock into June practices, but in non-contact drills, Diggs didn't look like someone who underwent knee surgery in early November. Plus, while speed may decline for receivers as they enter their 30s, precise route running should not drop off as quickly.
Beyond that, the Patriots could use Diggs serving as a bit of an on-field coach, too. There's the familiarity with the offense, sure, but Diggs brings a track record of success to a pair of second-year receivers (Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker) who underwhelmed as rookies. They could, in an ideal world, benefit from observing the way Diggs runs routes.
But most importantly, Diggs was still playing at a high level last season before the injury. He posted 496 yards in eight games, which put him on pace for a seventh straight 1,000-yard season.
The concerns fall into three buckets.
The first is age. A wide receiver's 30s aren't generally kind to him, and Diggs turns 32 in November. His prime is decidedly behind him now, and the question becomes how productive he can be in the aftermath.
The second is his injury. Diggs always lacked explosiveness (only a 9-foot-7-inch broad jump and 35-inch vertical leap coming out of college), and an ACL tear won't help in that department. He looked to be ahead of schedule this spring, but it's still not ideal for a receiver in his 30s, who already lacked explosiveness, to try to come back from this injury and serve as a team's No. 1 option.
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Finally, there's the elephant in the room. Before he was a full participant in practice, Diggs had already frustrated some within the organization by becoming a distraction when the video of him on the boat went viral. That can still become a distant memory if he plays well this season, but it wasn't exactly a dream start to his time in New England.
Just how involved will Diggs be in August? He'll likely open camp by working on the side until he's cleared from injury. But will there come a point in late August when Diggs begins participating in full team drills? If so, is playing Week 1 really an option?
It always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the season on the physically unable to perform list (meaning he'd be out at least the first four games), but perhaps the optimism from his spring performances can translate to an increased role in camp and maybe even open the door for Diggs to open the season on the Week 1 roster.
