Patriots Sign Stefon Diggs to $69M Deal Amid Injury Concerns

• Mar 26, 2025

The New England Patriots have signed veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract, with $26 million guaranteed. The deal, which is heavily incentive-based, comes after Diggs' season-ending ACL injury last year raised concerns about his future performance.

Patriots Take a Chance on Diggs

Diggs, who previously played for the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, visited the Patriots’ facility last week but initially left without signing a deal. However, the two sides later agreed on a contract that will pay him an average of $23 million per season, though less than $9 million per year is guaranteed.

Before his injury, Diggs was on track for another impressive season. He had recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns in six straight seasons. In his debut year with Houston, he was on pace to continue that streak before suffering an ACL tear in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. At the time of his injury, he had 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns, with 31 of those catches resulting in first downs.

Injury Raises Questions About Future Performance

Most teams were hesitant to sign the 31-year-old due to concerns over his recovery and whether he could regain his speed and explosiveness. The Patriots' contract structure suggests they share those concerns, making the deal less risky for the team.

Bill Simmons, a Boston native and sports analyst, reacted cautiously to the signing, simply posting on X (formerly Twitter): "I'm trying to stay positive."

The Patriots had initially targeted Chris Godwin in free agency but missed out on him, leaving Diggs as the most accomplished wide receiver still available. Now, the team is betting that he can return to his pre-injury form and be a key part of their offense.

High Risk, High Reward

If Diggs regains his previous level of play, the Patriots' front office will be praised for making a smart investment. However, if his injury limits his performance, the deal could be seen as a costly gamble.

New England fans will be eager to see if Diggs can bounce back and make an impact in the upcoming NFL season.