Reported Stefon Diggs Deal Leads To Key Patriots Position Battle
The Patriots reportedly made a blockbuster addition Tuesday, and it will lead to an interesting offseason for Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff.
New England and Stefon Diggs reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year, $69 million contract that includes $26 million guaranteed. Diggs automatically becomes the Patriots’ top wide receiver and should serve as a mentor for Drake Maye and the young wide receiver corps. Who remains in that group will be a question to answer during offseason camps.
The Patriots now have nine wide receivers in-house: Diggs, Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, JaQuae Jackson, John Jiles and Ja’Lynn Polk. There should be more, as it would be foolish if New England didn’t select at least one receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Players like Jackson and Jiles likely will be cut or join the practice squad. Hollins was signed this offseason, so his job is safe. That leaves five others whose standing on the team is up in the air.
You could argue Douglas and Polk are at the top of the pecking order of safe candidates since Douglas serves a specific role as the top slot receiver, and Polk’s second-round status will help keep him around for at least one more season.
Boutte made standout plays in the second half of last season. However, the 22-year-old’s outspoken attitude was part of the poor culture led by Jerod Mayo. He’s still young, so his upside might be enough to make the cut.
Baker reportedly already reached out to Vrabel, so the 2024 fourth-round pick stayed proactive about his roster status. Similar to Boutte, Baker’s upside might be enough to retain him for at least one more season. Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf was high on Polk and Baker, so the UCF product will have someone vouching for him.
That leaves Bourne. On the surface, it would seem odd to cut the veteran. The same case was made for David Andrews, but the Patriots surprisingly released the two-time Super Bowl champion. Similar to Andrews, Bourne is familiar with Josh McDaniels’ system, and his 2021 season was his best in New England. That might not be enough for a new regime.
It would be awkward to release Bourne after his excitement for the Diggs addition and his growing relationship with Maye is valuable. However, the Patriots can only keep so many wide receivers on the active roster, and a tough decision will need to be made.