The Patriots may be getting a break in the Stefon Diggs sweepstakes, and it could matter more than it sounds like on the surface.
When New England moved on from Diggs after only one season, the assumption around the fan base was pretty simple: either he’d circle back quickly on a new deal or find his way back before the 2026 season kicked off. Eliot Wolf even seemed to leave that door open, which only added fuel to the idea that Drake Maye would eventually have two star receivers powering the offense in another Super Bowl push.
That picture looks a lot less likely now. With training camp opening this week and Diggs tied to a growing list of other teams, a return to Foxboro doesn’t seem to be in the cards anytime soon.
The latest buzz has centered on the Chiefs and Commanders, but the landscape keeps shifting. Brandon Aiyuk’s situation has made Washington a tougher fit, while the Chiefs’ own receiver plans have been clouded by what appears to be a serious leg injury for Tyreek Hill. That has opened the door for another possibility, and Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation has predicted Diggs will land with the Cowboys.
For the Patriots, that would be a welcome outcome.
New England’s defense is already strong and on the verge of elite status, so the schedule is going to test them either way. But avoiding Diggs would still be a real win. He spent enough time tormenting the Patriots during his Bills days to make that obvious, and nobody in Foxboro needs a refresher on what he can do when he gets rolling.
The Cowboys angle is especially interesting because it keeps Diggs away from a Patriots matchup this season. Dallas doesn’t appear on New England’s schedule, while the Chiefs do. And if the alternative is Diggs ending up in Kansas City, that’s a much tougher pill to swallow.
The fit in Dallas makes plenty of sense on paper, too. As Bailey put it, "Outside of stars CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, Dallas has zero depth at receiver. Ryan Flournoy, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Kavontae Turpin are the names behind the terrific duo - that simply won’t cut it.
Signing Diggs as a chess piece who can move around both on the perimeter and the slot, just like Lamb and Pickens can do, would give the Cowboys the best trio of pass-catchers in the NFL."
A receiving group built around Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens sounds almost unreal, but it’s a real possibility as Dallas pushes for the NFC East title against the Eagles. If that comes together, the Cowboys would have no excuse for an offense that falls flat, and Diggs would be landing with the kind of contender he’s clearly looking for.
From New England’s perspective, that’s the best-case version of this story. The Patriots already have one difficult game on the docket with the Chiefs. They don’t need Diggs added to the mix.
He may not be the same player he once was, but his lone season in Foxboro showed he still has plenty left. That alone is reason enough for the Patriots to hope his next stop is somewhere they won’t have to see him on game day.
In Other News...
Patriots Just Made Another Receiver Move And Someone Paid For It
The Patriots kept churning the bottom of the roster after their first training camp practice, claiming rookie wide receiver Kobe Prentice off waivers and making room by waiving offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez. It is the kind of early-camp move that rarely changes the big picture on its own, but it does show how quickly New England is sorting through the back end of the roster as it starts to take shape.
Jimmy Kibble also cleared waivers and reverted to injured reserve, another reminder that the first week of camp is about more than just the players on the field. For a team still evaluating young receivers and trying to balance depth across the offensive line, these small transactions can matter just as much as the headline additions, even if the larger roster questions are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Former Patriots First Round Receiver Suddenly Linked To AFC East Twist
Miamis wide receiver depth has become a talking point again, and one recent analysis pointed to a familiar AFC East name as a possible fix. The Dolphins are being framed as a sensible landing spot for a veteran pass catcher because the room around their top options is thin, and the appeal is obvious: a proven receiver who could help stabilize the group without forcing a major commitment.
For Patriots fans, the twist is the reminder that the player in question once came through New England as a first-round pick before moving on to the rest of the league. The intrigue goes beyond a simple depth signing, too, because the idea is that Miami could view him as a low-risk addition now and perhaps even as a movable piece later if he makes an impact early. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Finally Have A Chance To Fix Their Pass Rush
The Patriots spent the offseason looking for answers up front, and the pass rush remains one of the clearest areas where the roster still feels unfinished. With Harold Landry coming off offseason surgery, Gabe Jacas future still unsettled and KLavon Chaisson gone in free agency, New England has reason to keep exploring every avenue for more defensive-line help before the season starts.
One path would be a trade for a proven interior disruptor, the kind of move that would instantly change the conversation around the front seven. If that kind of deal never materializes, the Patriots could still turn to the veteran market, where a player like Jadeveon Clowney would at least give them another established edge option while they continue trying to piece together a more reliable rush. [Read more 🡒]