New England Patriots
By releasing Diggs, New England is saving nearly $17 million in cap space this offseason.
Stefon Diggs surpassed 1,000 receiving yards with the Patriots in 2025. AP Photo/Doug Benc
March 4, 2026 | 4:21 PM
3 minutes to read
The New England Patriots are reportedly looking for a new top wide receiver.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Patriots are releasing veteran wideout Stefon Diggs, parting ways with the four-time Pro Bowler after just one season.
Diggs made the most of his one year in Foxborough — serving as Drake Maye’s go-to target amid a season where the Patriots made it all the way to Super Bowl LX.
Despite becoming the first Patriots player to surpass 1,000 receiving yards since Julian Edelman did so in 2019, Diggs and the Patriots were potentially headed toward a cap-related headache this offseason.
Diggs — who signed a three-year contract with New England last March — was set to account for a sizable $26.8 million cap hit for the 2026 campaign if he remained on the Patriots roster.
Of his sizable salary, $6.1 million was set to be fully guaranteed by New England on March 13, prompting the Patriots to either cut Diggs for cap relief or try to structure his deal moving forward.
New England ultimately opted to move on from Diggs — freeing up $16.8 million in cap space as a result.
“The Patriots didn’t want to drag him along and informed him today they’re moving on, giving him a jump start,” NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero wrote on X of Diggs’ release. “He’ll be released next Wednesday.”
Diggs took to Instagram Wednesday afternoon to say his farewell to the Patriots and their fans.
“THANK YOU for a hell of a year. We family forever @Patriots,” Diggs wrote on his Instagram story. On Tuesday, Diggs appeared to have scrubbed his Instagram account.
Diggs entered the 2025 season with plenty of question marks. Despite his standing as a former All-Pro wideout during his tenure with the Bills, Diggs was coming off a torn ACL that he suffered while playing for the Houston Texans in October 2024.
Despite both his age and that severe injury, Diggs emerged as one of the key cogs on a 2025 Patriots squad that exceeded all expectations.
He finished the season with 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns — while emerging as a veteran voice in the locker room and a flag-bearer for Mike Vrabel’s reworked culture in Foxborough.
Still, questions arose this offseason over whether or not Diggs would be a long-term fixture in New England.
“[Expletive], unless they opt out of the contract,” Diggs said after Super Bowl LX when asked if he expects to be back in Foxborough in 2026. “I anticipate being here. I hope so. Love my guys. Hell of a year playing with them. We built some real family-like bonds, so I hope so. I don’t control it.”
Even with his impressive stat line, Diggs’ sizable cap hit in 2026 had the risk of hindering New England’s fiscal flexibility this offseason — especially with the Patriots needing to account for several deficiencies across the depth chart.
Given Diggs’ age and quiet postseason (14 catches, 110 yards, one touchdown over four games), New England also had to weigh whether or not an older wideout like Diggs was worth an over $25 million cap hit.
Diggs is also facing legal issues in Massachusetts. The Pro Bowl wide receiver is facing charges of assault and strangulation over an alleged incident with a woman who worked as his personal chef. He pleaded not guilty to those charges while appearing at Massachusetts’s Dedham District Court on Feb. 13.
According to OverTheCap, New England is expected to have over $56 million in cap space after cutting Diggs and gaining that additional $16.8 million.
But, New England now has to add a proven WR1 to pair with Maye moving forward, especially with Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins being the next pass-catchers up on the depth chart.
New England could pursue trades for wideouts like A.J. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr. this spring, or they could allocate some of that cap space and try to win the looming bidding war for Colts receiver Alec Pierce.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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