Sudden change of heart forces Patriots to take back message for Stefon Diggs
Among the various topics surrounding the Patriots this offseason has been the possibility of wide receiver Stefon Diggs returning on a new contract after the team released him ahead of free agency.
Despite putting together the best stat line by a receiver in New England since Julian Edelman in 2020, Diggs was cut due to an alleged contract disagreement, with GM Eliot Wolf proclaiming the door was still open for a potential return.
Patriots fans have held onto that hope over the past few months, and that feeling only got stronger after he was found not guilty in his court case last week.
Diggs remains unsigned after minicamp, with little news about teams being interested, and it looked like the Patriots weren’t seriously considering his return either, especially after the news that Kyle Williams was switching from No. 18 to No. 8.
That was the loudest message the team had sent yet about their feelings on Diggs, but the latest update about Williams’ jersey switch suggests otherwise, which is exactly what fans would love to hear right about now.
Kyle Williams’ changes his mind on jersey switch, seemingly pointing to a Stefon Diggs return
Despite the announcement of a number change, Williams has reportedly changed his mind and will still don No. 18 for the 2026 season. Maybe he had a change of heart. Maybe he wanted to keep Matthew Slater’s old number after receiving his blessing.
Or maybe this coincidental timing isn’t so coincidental after all.
Because Diggs was found not guilty and has seemingly put his biggest troubles behind him, it would make sense that the Patriots might have an increased interest in bringing him back for the 2026 season, since he had previously been under contract anyway.
If they can get him back on a cheaper contract, since that was apparently their issue with his previous one, then Diggs’ return shouldn’t be ruled out.
That feels particularly true after seeing Williams change his mind about the jersey switch. It could just be a random decision to back out, or maybe he was alerted that Diggs would be returning and wanted to make sure he could wear the same number he wore in 2025.
It would make the most sense, and would be pretty cool for Williams to do. If that’s not the explanation for his sudden change of heart, then it’s just another false flag that Patriots fans got overly excited about.
Stefon Diggs’ trial verdict has Patriots fans all asking the same question
The New England Patriots’ decision to release wide receiver Stefon Diggs earlier this offseason was complicated. On one hand, he was the team’s most productive pass catcher, showed a strong on-field rapport with quarterback Drake Maye, and carved out a clear role as one of the team’s top vocal leaders.
It was also impossible to ignore his dip in production late in the season, especially in the postseason. Diggs managed just 14 receptions on 20 targets over New England’s four playoff games, including Super Bowl LX. Aside from a big touchdown reception in traffic in the Patriots’ divisional-round win over Houston, Diggs’ overall impact was minimal.
Diggs was about to enter his age-33 season, with a $20.6 million base salary for 2026 and a pending legal issue for alleged assault and strangulation of his former personal chef. It made sense for the Patriots to cut ties prior to March 13, when an additional $6 million of Diggs’ salary was scheduled to become guaranteed.
Now weeks after the 2026 NFL Draft, Diggs remains a free agent. As the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, his legal issues are now behind him, as he was found not guilty in a trial that lasted just two days. Coming off a 1,000-yard season with the Patriots, he more than proved he could help a contending team, especially as a slot receiver to help move the chains on third down.
Diggs figures to land somewhere before NFL training camps kick off this summer. And after proving the Patriots right in supporting him amid his latest off-the-field drama, fans of the team are now wondering the same thing, as shown in the comments section of this tweet by Carlos Lopez: Could Diggs be welcomed back to Foxboro on a new contract?
The team’s decision to sign the 26-year-old Romeo Doubs to a four-year deal with close to $40 million in guarantees speaks volumes. Doubs has the positional versatility and route-running prowess to fill Diggs’ role in the offense, and the team should be looking to clear more opportunities for Kyle Williams, who was blocked from meaningful reps in his rookie year. Kayshon Boutte’s name has been floated in trade rumors, most likely tied to the team’s expected pursuit of Brown. Mack Hollins remains under contract as one of the offense’s snap-count leaders in 2025, and the Patriots still have DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism in the mix as depth options.
Diggs might have been the closest thing the Patriots have had to WR1 in recent memory, but the reality here is that the team’s wide receiver room is out of chairs. Aside from acquiring Brown and subsequently moving on from Boutte, New England’s depth chart is set at wide receiver.
Fortunately for Diggs, his legal issues appear to be behind him and he can now focus on finding a new NFL home. The fit with Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel worked wonders last year, but a reunion in 2026 still feels like a major long shot.