The New England Patriots desperately needed to help out Drake Maye on the perimeter, and have finally gotten him some help in a big way, signing 31-year-old receiver Stefon Diggs.
Read more: Patriots Land Stefon Diggs With Massive Multi-Year Deal
The reported contract is for 3 years and $69 million with $26 million guaranteed. That seems like a lot of money on paper, but the Patriots had plenty of cap space and could use all the help they could get in the passing game for Drake Maye to avoid a sophomore slump.
Diggs is entering the 11th season of his career, where he has spent five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings after they drafted him in the fifth round, four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and one season with the Houston Texans last year.
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Diggs is coming off playing just eight games with the Texans after tearing his ACL. He did manage 47 receptions on 496 yards in the short time period, showcasing at least before the ACL injury, he still had a 1,000-yard receiving season in him.
Diggs’ career-best season is well behind him, however, when he put up 1,535 receiving yards on 127 receptions in 2020.
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Diggs is likely beyond his status as an elite NFL receiver but is still a nice, reliable veteran presence to have in the Patriots receiver room.
Diggs immediately slots in as a nice short-term WR1, but the team could still use more talent at the position to help out Maye beyond Diggs.
Diggs is also more of a slot guy than a premier perimeter threat who can stretch the field. Beyond 2019 when he averaged about 18 yards per reception, Diggs has hung out around 10-13 yards per reception.
The Patriots could still look to add a dangerous deep threat or a perimeter-focused option to the receiver core in the NFL draft.
Another benefit to adding Diggs, beyond his talent on the field, is it makes one of the top needs of the team less pressing. As mentioned, the team still may address the position in the draft, but it seems less likely the team will force a receiver pick in the first round in what is a relatively less talented receiver class.
Overall, the Diggs signing is a positive one for the Patriots, mainly due to how desperately in need of help at receiver they were. It doesn’t improve the offense drastically by any means, but the team can now shift its focus more to the offensive line, or at least the best player available in the draft.
The money doesn’t seem too insane either, a,s without immediate details, $23 million guaranteed doesn’t seem too difficult to get out of early — if necessary.
Grade: B
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