WR Stefon Diggs is signing a three-year deal with the Patriots. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it carries a max value of $69 million. ESPN's Adam Schefter adds that Diggs will get $26 million in guarantees. The agreement followed a Diggs visit that included a physical. The veteran WR tore his right ACL on Oct. 27.
Diggs got eight games in with the Texans before going down for the season. He caught at least 5 passes in seven of those contests but became a much shorter-range operator than he was in Buffalo.
According to Pro Football Focus, Diggs' 8.3-yard average depth of target last season was the shortest of his career. That marked a 2.3-yard dip vs. 2023, which already checked in as his shortest aDOT across four years in Buffalo.
That shift could help Diggs' productivity in his return from the ACL tear. New England clearly believes he'll be ready early this season. And the money says he should expect plenty of targets.
We'll see about exactly where the Patriots want to line him up. Diggs spent about 53% of his time in the slot with Houston last year after working primarily on the outside across his previous seven seasons -- split between the Bills and Vikings.
I'll be surprised if the Pats look to turn Diggs back into a dynamic downfield operator ... at age 31 ... coming off an ACL tear. Especially with longtime OC Josh McDaniels back in charge of the offense.
Diggs still isn't an exciting 2025 option. But the target upside is greater here than it would be in most other places.
WR Demario Douglas served as the short-range, primary slot guy for last year's Patriots. He'd likely take the biggest hit if Diggs takes over that role.
There figures to be open competition in one of the league's weakest WR groups, though. And don't be surprised if New England adds more to the position in the draft.
Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker failed to make impacts as 2024 rookies.
The biggest winner here should be QB Drake Maye, who finally gets a legit NFL receiver. We'll have to see this summer just how close Diggs is to that legitimacy, though.
Diggs sat WR49 in our PPR rankings ahead of this signing. Expect a rise from there, but he'll have trouble cracking the top 40.
Diggs ranks just 58th among WRs in best ball ADP as of this writing. Expect that to rise as well, especially given New England's financial investment.
But there's still room for Diggs to be a draft value -- especially on best ball rosters that have Maye.
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