The New England Patriots are releasing four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, NFL Network reports.
The team has informed Diggs of the decision and intends to release him at the start of the new NFL year on March 11, per the report. Diggs appeared to confirm the decision with a post on Instagram declaring “We family forever.”
News of Diggs’ pending release breaks weeks after Diggs pleaded not guilty to charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery. It’s not clear what, if any impact Diggs’ legal troubles made on New England’s decision to release him.
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Decision leaves big hole in Patriots’ lineup
The decision will leave the Patriots without their No. 1 receiver from their 2025 season that produced a trip to the Super Bowl. Diggs led the Patriots in receptions and receiving yards with 85 catches for 1,013 and 4 touchdowns.
Barring a significant offseason addition, Diggs’ absence will leave a significant hole in New England’s lineup and third-year quarterback Drake Maye without a true No. 1 receiving option. The next three receivers on New England’s depth chart are Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas, none of whom tallied more than 551 receiving yards last season.
Stefon Diggs is done in New England after one season.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)Salary cap ramifications of Diggs’ release
Diggs, 32, played a single season of his three-year, $63.5 million contract with New England. Only $22.6 million of the contract was guaranteed. Per Spotrac, Diggs’ contract was slated to account for $26.5 million against their salary cap in 2026 after counting for just $10.5 million against the cap in 2025. His deal carries a $9.7 million dead cap hit in 2026 and a $4 million dead cap hit in 2027.
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Per Spotrac, New England was scheduled to enter free agency with roughly $35.3 million in salary cap space. That’s without the cap savings gained by releasing Diggs. They’ll presumably seek to use that cap space to address their receiver room and acquire another No. 1 option to replace Diggs through one or more of free agency, the trade market and the draft.
Who will replace Diggs in New England?
Alec Pierce of the Colts, Mike Evans of the Bucs, Rashid Shaheed of the Seahawks and Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins are among the top receivers projected to be available in free agency. Eagles All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown, meanwhile, is rumored to potentially be available on the trade market, though he’ll reportedly come at a high price.
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One or more of them could be potential targets for New England as the Patriots look to build off the success of their 2025 season and further develop Maye, who was named second-team All-Pro in his second NFL season.
Diggs, meanwhile, will become a surprise addition to the free agent pool. He projects as a target for contending teams seeking veteran help at wide receiver.