The Buffalo Bills won’t be suiting up this weekend-and if they do tune in to the AFC Championship Game, it’ll be from the couch, not the sideline. But one familiar face will be on the field, and he's wearing a different shade of blue and red now.
Stefon Diggs, the former Bills WR1 and one of the NFL’s most productive receivers over the past half-decade, is headed to the conference title game as a member of the New England Patriots. He’s now the go-to target for rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and together they’ve helped push New England to within one win of the Super Bowl.
It’s a twist that feels especially bitter for Buffalo fans. In a season where the Bills desperately needed a true No. 1 receiver, Diggs has been just that for the Patriots.
The Breakup in Buffalo
So how did we get here?
Diggs' departure from Buffalo wasn’t exactly subtle. After the 2023 season, tensions around his role in the offense became more visible.
Add in a looming cap crunch and a roster full of contract decisions, and the Bills made a bold call-they moved on. Not only did they part ways with Diggs, they took on the largest dead cap hit in NFL history for a non-quarterback to do it.
That’s not just a clean break; that’s a financial gut punch.
The Houston Texans were the first to take the swing, sending a 2025 second-round pick to Buffalo in exchange for Diggs, along with a sixth-rounder in 2024 and a fifth in 2025. But Diggs’ time in Houston was short-lived. He played just eight games before suffering a torn ACL, which sent him into free agency.
A New Chapter in New England
After rehabbing and hitting the open market, Diggs landed in New England, signing a three-year, $69 million deal with the Patriots. And while the numbers might not be as gaudy as his Buffalo peak, he’s been a steadying presence in a young offense.
In the 2025 regular season, Diggs hauled in 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. It’s a far cry from his league-leading 127 receptions in 2020, but it’s exactly what the Patriots needed-reliable production, veteran leadership, and a trusted target for their rookie quarterback.
In the postseason, Diggs hasn’t exploded on the stat sheet, but he’s made timely plays. Against the Chargers in the Wild Card round, he had just two catches for 16 yards.
But in the snowy Divisional Round win, he found the end zone, adding four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective-especially in a game where every yard came with a price.
Looking Back-and Ahead
It’s hard not to look at the situation and wonder what could’ve been for Buffalo. Diggs gave the Bills four straight 1,000-yard seasons after arriving from Minnesota in 2020.
He was the engine of their passing game, a route technician with a knack for big moments. But the relationship soured, and now he’s chasing a Super Bowl ring with a division rival.
For the Patriots, the gamble is paying off. They’ve paired a rookie quarterback with a savvy veteran receiver, and the chemistry has been good enough to carry them to the doorstep of the NFL’s biggest stage.
And for Diggs? He’s still standing, still producing, and still playing deep into January.