Stefon Diggs may have just put himself on the radar for teams still looking for a proven No. 2 receiver, and the Pittsburgh Steelers fit that conversation better than most.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Diggs said he believes he’s the best second option in the league while still sitting on the free agent market after his release from the New England Patriots in March.
"My opinion, I can compete with anybody," Diggs said. "But take those [top wide receivers] as your 1s, right? You can't name a No. 2 better than me."
That’s a clear acknowledgment that he may not be viewed as a true top-tier No. 1 at this stage, but it also shows the same confidence that has followed him throughout his career.
"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,'" Diggs said. "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?"
For Pittsburgh, the timing is interesting because the Steelers have spent the last two seasons trying to patch together the receiver spot behind their lead target and coming up short. In 2024, George Pickens was the No. 1, while Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson and Mike Williams were the supporting cast after the team missed on Brandon Aiyuk. None of those options gave the Steelers the kind of dependable No. 2 production they needed.
Then came another reset. Pickens was traded last offseason after Pittsburgh acquired DK Metcalf, and the Steelers again searched for a reliable sidekick. Austin, Roman Wilson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen never fully locked in as that steady second option.
This time, though, Pittsburgh moved fast. The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. in March and then used the No. 47 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Germie Bernard. They didn’t stop there, either, giving Pittman Jr. a three-year, $59 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2028.
That investment makes sense based on what Pittman Jr. has become. After being the Colts’ No. 1 option earlier in his career, he’s settled into a strong No. 2 role over the past couple of seasons and put up 784 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 catches in 2025.
Diggs brings plenty of production too. He signed a three-year, $63.5 million deal with New England last offseason and finished with 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns during the Patriots’ run to Super Bowl LX.
He’s still a difference-maker, but he’s also headed to his fourth team in four years, and that kind of movement can raise eyebrows for a player with his résumé.
Pittman Jr. and Diggs belong in the same general tier, and there’s an argument that Diggs could be the better bargain if he’s willing to take a shorter deal at a lower price. Even so, Pittsburgh already made its move with Pittman Jr., and that makes it tough to see Diggs as a realistic Steelers target unless he’s open to a limited role.
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