WR Stefon Diggs signs a three-year, $69 million max deal with Patriots

Stefon Diggs is coming back to the AFC East, but there won’t be a reunion with the Houston Texans.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport announced on Tuesday that Diggs and the New England Patriots have reached an agreement on a three-year, maximum contract of $69 million.

Diggs’ first and only season with the Texans ended due to an ACL tear, which he sustained about five months ago. After spending a recent visit with the Patriots, he shared videos of his workouts on Instagram. The move will undoubtedly come under scrutiny because to the expensive cost and worries about a veteran recovering from the most devastating injury of his career, even though it fills a huge need in New England at wide out. The Patriots don’t seem overly concerned about his recovery.

Before the offseason began, Houston general manager Nick Caserio indicated that Diggs would return, but the former Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings star is heading to Boston to join head coach Mike Vrabel’s team.

The Pats certainly hope Diggs can give Drake Maye, their second-year quarterback, a reliable target who can also give their wide receiver corps experience.

Prior to his knee injury in 2024, Stefon Diggs, 31, had 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns.

Before last season, Diggs had six straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Bills, earning him four Pro Bowl invitations from 2020 to 2023.

Even though Diggs’ days as one of the NFL’s best wide receivers are probably over, he should still be an asset to a Patriots squad that hasn’t had a reliable receiver in years if he returns.

Diggs had a season-long average of 62 yards per game. In 2024, Hunter Henry, a tight end, led the Patriots with 42 yards per game.

Since Julian Edelman in 2019, New England hasn’t had a receiver with 1,000 yards or a player average of more than 60 yards per game.

There’s a little more hope now that Diggs is in the same room with Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and Ja’Lynn Polk. In addition to Diggs, the Patriots have had a busy offseason, adding defensive tackle Milton Williams, edge Harold Landry, cornerback Carlton Davis, and center Garrett Bradbury to their roster.

With Christian Kirk and Nico Collins leading the way, Houston, whose quarterback C.J. Stroud was hoping for a Diggs return, is moving on. A Diggs comeback was probably out of the question when the Texans traded for Kirk.

Diggs is joining his fourth NFL franchise and returning to the AFC East.