Patriots Reportedly ‘In’ on Star WRs amid A.J. Brown, Alec Pierce Rumors After Stefon Diggs Release
The New England Patriots reportedly are moving on from Stefon Diggs and eyeing his replacements.
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, New England is “in on the big names” on the market, such as Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. Schultz added that the Pats are “believed to be prepared to spend big.”
Diggs was solid in his sole season with the Pats, posting 1,013 yards and four touchdowns while helping the team reach the Super Bowl. Still, it makes sense that New England wanted to move on from the 32-year-old since he was set to count for a $26.5 million cap hit in 2026.
There were also some within the organization who viewed Diggs as a “declining player,” according to Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. Callahan and Kyed also reported that others in the front office viewed Diggs’ contract as “fair enough” that he could stick around.
Mark Daniels and Karen Guregian of MassLive.com reported that Diggs was “unwilling” to restructure his contract.
Pierce posted similar numbers to Diggs in 2025, collecting 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns, though he also missed two games. It’s also fair to say that the former second-round pick has more upside since he’s just 25 years old.
Pierce, who is coming off his rookie deal with the Colts, has a market value of $20.2 million per year, according to Spotrac.
Brown, who was linked to the Patriots even before they cut Diggs, is coming off a season in which he collected 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. While it was far from the best season of the 28-year-old’s career, working with an MVP-caliber quarterback such as Drake Maye could help him get back on track.
Brown is under contract through the 2029 season and has a $23.4 million cap hit in 2026.
