Andrew Buller-Russ
When Stefon Diggs signed with the New England Patriots last offseason, it came as a shock. Especially because they signed the then-31-year-old to a three-year, $65 million contract despite him coming back from an ACL tear.
However, the deal ended up being a fair compromise for both sides. The Patriots wound up not only reaching the playoffs, they got all the way to the Super Bowl with his help. Though with Diggs facing a $26.5 million cap hit for 2026, his returning for another season in New England was always unlikely at that rate.
On Wednesday, the Patriots revealed that they’re set to release Diggs at the start of the new league year next week. The one-time All-Pro is coming off a year where he recorded his seventh 1,000-yard season and will surely face a strong market again.
Below, we evaluate some of the strongest landing spots for the four-time Pro Bowl receiver.
Related: Buffalo Bills May Be Ready to Move on From Pro Bowl Player
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are moving on from Brandon Aiyuk. Jauan Jennings is set for free agency too. Meanwhile, they could be an ideal fit for Diggs, who has proven capable of making plays all over the field from multiple receiver spots. He’d be a dream for Kyle Shanahan to scheme up plays for as George Kittle continues to age on the wrong side of 30.
Los Angeles Chargers
Veteran receiver Keenan Allen is a free agent again. While the Chargers could bring him back after he ranked second on the team in receiving yards, L.A. has a chance to upgrade at the position by signing Diggs instead. Diggs is a year younger, and he’s been more productive as of late, even after recovering from a serious injury. We could see Diggs appreciating the chance to play for a contender in such beautiful weather.
Washington Commanders
Diggs grew up in Maryland, and he played college ball there too. With the Commanders boasting some of the NFL’s most salary cap space, it’s possible they’ll pursue Stefon’s brother, Trevon, to play cornerback too. A homecoming for the Diggs brothers could be exactly what these siblings are planning this offseason.
Kansas City Chiefs
There have been rumors that Diggs has been trying to connect with Patrick Mahomes for several seasons now. It didn’t happen last year when he was coming off a torn ACL. Yet, with the Chiefs hunting for another playmaker this offseason, we can’t help but wonder whether he’ll end up in Kansas City this time around.
Related: 5 Likeliest Kyler Murray Free Agency Landing Spots After Cardinals Release
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have made a coaching change. Now that they have an offensive-minded leader at the helm, we wonder if Diggs will see the Bills as a more team-friendly landing spot. Plus, he could be looking for a chance to rekindle his strong relationship with NFL MVP Josh Allen. Having both athletes performing with a chip on their shoulders could lead to a magical season.
