"Although he was the first receiver in New England to reach 1,000+ receiving yards since Julian Edelman in 2019, there is considerable discussion about his fit for 2026 and beyond, particularly given his ongoing court case and his salary. Whatever happens to his tenure in Foxborough could depend on the outcome of his legal problems, but if not, NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry believes there's plenty to suggest his salary isn't ideal for what the Patriots want to accomplish."
"He has $1.7 million guaranteed on his deal for 2026. It's not a huge number, but if you get to the regular season, that $20.6 million base salary becomes guaranteed, and actually $6 million of that will be guaranteed on March 13th. That's the key date. If he gets $6 million on March 13th, he's going to be with this team. If he doesn't, you're going to be looking for wide receivers, whether it's in free agency or in the draft, to help fill the gap."
The Patriots enter the 2026 offseason focused on free agency decisions that will reshape the roster. Mike Vrabel signaled that difficult moves are likely, and Stefon Diggs' status is a primary consideration. Diggs was the first New England receiver to surpass 1,000 receiving yards since Julian Edelman in 2019, but ongoing legal issues and his contract cost raise concerns about long-term fit. Diggs carries $1.7 million guaranteed for 2026, with a $20.6 million base that becomes guaranteed if the regular season begins and $6 million guaranteed on March 13. If March 13 triggers guarantees, Diggs will likely remain; otherwise the team could save nearly $17 million against the cap while taking about $9.7 million in dead money.
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