"The biggest benefit of parting with Diggs now is that the Patriots have now freed up another $21.7 million in cash to spend this offseason. Depending on where the Krafts draw the line on the cash budget, New England could now have more than $60 million more in cash to spend to help the team."
"While Diggs brought the kind of vocal leadership and veteran savvy that Mike Vrabel needed for his offense in Year 1, he was never a lock to play out the balance of the three-year, $63.5 million contract he signed in 2025. The Patriots front-loaded his deal to the point where only $6 million of his 2026 salary would've become guaranteed."
The New England Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs after one season, with the team attributing the move to salary cap considerations. However, the decision appears driven by cash flow management under Robert and Jonathan Kraft's direction rather than pure cap necessity. Diggs' contract was structured with minimal guaranteed money for 2026, making him expendable. While he provided veteran leadership and served as Drake Maye's security blanket in Josh McDaniels' offense, Diggs struggled during the playoff run and faced off-field allegations. Releasing him freed approximately $21.7 million in cash, potentially allowing the Patriots over $60 million in additional spending flexibility depending on the Krafts' budget approval for Mike Vrabel's rebuild.
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