Patriots Release Stefon Diggs: Cap Move Frees $16.8M as NFL Free Agency Opens
Breaking news out of Foxborough — the New England Patriots are releasing Stefon Diggs. The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver was informed of the decision Wednesday, just one year after signing a three-year deal. It is one of the biggest NFL news stories of the week, dropping just hours after the Trent McDuffie blockbuster. Here is everything you need to know about the Diggs Patriots split.
Patriots Release Stefon Diggs: The Official Decision
The New England Patriots informed veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he will be released at the start of the 2026 league year next week. Diggs' salary cap charge was set to rise from $10.5 million to $26.5 million, which was the catalyst for the move.
The move saves more than $16 million in cap space. Diggs was just one year into a three-year, $63.5 million contract that he signed last offseason.
The Patriots informed Diggs ahead of time so he could get an early start on seeking a new employer. Diggs expressed gratitude posting on social media: "THANK YOU for a hell of a year. We family forever."
Stefon Diggs 2025 Stats: One Remarkable Season in New England
Despite becoming the first Patriots player to surpass 1,000 receiving yards since Julian Edelman did so in 2019, Diggs and the Patriots were headed toward a cap-related headache this offseason.
Diggs caught 82.5% of his targets last season — 85 out of 103 — the second-highest reception percentage among wide receivers with at least 100 targets in the last 10 seasons. He totaled a team-high 85 receptions for 1,013 yards with four touchdowns in the regular season.
Combined with his four playoff games, Diggs finished with 99 total catches and 1,123 yards — as New England's most productive pass catcher in a season that ended at Super Bowl LX.
The Super Bowl Run and What Diggs Meant to the Patriots
Coach Mike Vrabel praised Diggs at the NFL Scouting Combine, saying: "Not only his future, but what he was able to do for us and come in and provide leadership." Diggs was widely credited as a veteran voice in the locker room and a cultural cornerstone of a young team that shocked the league.
In the playoffs, Diggs logged 14 receptions for just 110 yards and a touchdown across the Patriots' four postseason games — a quieter run than his regular season, but the Patriots still rode his presence all the way to the Super Bowl.
Off-Field Legal Issues Also a Factor
Diggs dealt with an off-field issue in his final months in New England. He was arrested in December and pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges after he allegedly strangled his personal chef. He is next scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing April 1.
It is unclear whether the off-field issues played into the Patriots' decision to release the ten-year NFL veteran.
New England Patriots Cap Situation and What Comes Next
Per Spotrac, New England was scheduled to enter free agency with roughly $35.3 million in salary cap space — not counting the additional savings from releasing Diggs. 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.
The Patriots have been in on the big names on the wide receiver free-agent market and are believed to be prepared to spend big, with Alec Pierce among the names they have been eyeing. The trade market is also an option.
Stefon Diggs Free Agency: Best Landing Spots
The 32-year-old Diggs enters free agency for the second straight year — and the market for a 1,000-yard receiver who just played in a Super Bowl should be robust.
Possible landing spots for Diggs include Washington, where he could open things up for Terry McLaurin while giving Jayden Daniels another proven receiver. Baltimore makes sense given Lamar Jackson's lack of weapons alongside Zay Flowers. Pittsburgh is in any conversation involving receivers after unsuccessfully trying to land a proven veteran last season, where Diggs would complement DK Metcalf. The 49ers are another option, where Diggs could take pressure off Ricky Pearsall.
The new NFL league year opens March 11 — and Stefon Diggs figures to be one of the fastest-moving names on the entire NFL free agency board.
