The arguments for cutting Diggs are that he’s 32, isn’t a No. 1 receiver anymore, didn’t perform in the playoffs, and costs a lot, with $22.5 million in salary and a $26.5 million cap number in 2026. Releasing Diggs before March 14 would be easy and cheap — the Patriots would owe him only $1.7 million in guaranteed cash, which would later be reduced by whatever salary he makes from a new team. On March 14, that number increases to $7.7 million. Releasing Diggs also frees up more than $16 million in cap space.
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Significantly, Diggs has an ongoing legal issue, pleading not guilty this month to felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charges related to a dispute with his chef. His next hearing is April 1.
Obviously, if the legal issue blows up on Diggs, it becomes an easy decision to release him.
Otherwise, I see several compelling reasons to keep Diggs and not pursue Brown, even if Brown is the better receiver:
⋅ One, Diggs isn’t a typical 32-year-old. His 2025 season was impressive — playing in a new offense, with a new quarterback and new teammates, and coming off a torn ACL, Diggs played in all 17 games and caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards. His catch rate of 83.3 percent led all qualifying wide receivers.
Diggs keeps himself in terrific shape, and it’s not unreasonable to expect him to produce similar or better stats next season in his second year with Drake Maye and the offense. He’ll also be more than a year removed from his ACL.
⋅ Two, I don’t see wide receiver as a huge need for the Patriots. Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Diggs got open all season as Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Patriots went 14-3 and scored the fourth-most touchdowns from scrimmage (53, up from 29). The Patriots’ issues were an offensive line that got manhandled in the postseason, and a young quarterback who struggled in the Super Bowl. Better receivers wouldn’t have stopped the Patriots from getting crushed by the Seahawks.
All four receivers are under contract next season. So is Kyle Williams, last year’s third-round pick who only caught 10 passes for 209 yards but scored three touchdowns and flashed tantalizing speed. That’s a solid unit you can win with. If the Patriots drafted correctly, Williams’s development in Year 2 should provide the boost the offense needs, at no extra cost.
The enigmatic A.J. Brown is one of the strongest most explosive wideouts in the NFL. Terrance Williams/Associated Press
⋅ Three, building off that, it would be more of a luxury than a need to spend a draft pick(s) and more money for Brown, who will be 29 and cost $29 million cash in 2026. Brown is more physical than Diggs and a better vertical threat, but his addition wouldn’t solve the Patriots’ real issues, which is to get stronger on the offensive line and younger on defense. The Patriots also have to set aside a big chunk of money for Christian Gonzalez this offseason.
⋅ Four, Diggs isn’t that expensive. His contract, which averages $21.17 million over three years, ranks him the 22nd-highest-paid wide receiver. In 2026, Diggs ranks 12th in cap number ($26.5 million) and 14th in cash ($22.5 million).
It’s simply the cost for a solid, veteran wide receiver. Plus, Diggs isn’t prohibiting the Patriots from signing any player they want this offseason.
⋅ Five, it was clear throughout the season that Diggs is respected by teammates and coaches for his work ethic, tenacity, and leadership.
“Stef had a tremendous season,” Eliot Wolf said Tuesday. “His leadership was great.”
“I think he was just a really good presence each and every week,” Vrabel added.
Still, Brown is a clear upgrade over Diggs, so the Patriots need to consider it.
But unless the Eagles are desperate to trade Brown, the math doesn’t add up.
Presumably, if the Eagles are trading Brown, it’s for draft picks to use this April. But trading Brown before June 2 skyrockets his salary-cap charge from $23 million to $43 million. That’s all dead salary-cap money, on top of the $48 million in dead money the Eagles already are carrying. And the Eagles would still have to replace Brown.
The Eagles will have to be highly motivated to destroy their salary cap and weaken their team like that, almost certainly starting with a first-round pick. The Patriots’ first-rounder, 31st overall, may not be enticing enough on its own.
A post-June 2 trade would work better for the Eagles’ salary cap, splitting the dead money over two seasons, but trading Brown for 2027 picks would do nothing to help the 2026 Eagles. Again, the Eagles would have to be bowled over to subtract a No. 1 receiver with no immediate help in return.
Unless the Eagles are simply done with Brown, this deal only happens if the Patriots dig deep and pony up their first-round pick and more. It’s tempting, but the Patriots need to use their top draft picks, particularly on defense, which they have neglected in the last two drafts.
If the Patriots are going to trade for a receiver, they should see if the Steelers are willing to part with DK Metcalf ($25 million salary) for a mid-round pick. The Steelers would gain $7 million in cap space, and the cost is much more palatable for the Patriots.
Wolf and Vrabel were cagey about Diggs’s return in 2026, likely for two reasons — his ongoing legal matter, and to keep the door open for any trades that materialize.
But a trade for Brown has several complications standing in the way. Diggs is a simpler fallback, and not a bad one at all.
After making it to the Super Bowl, it’s time to debate what the best moves for the Patriots are in the offseason.
Ben Volin can be reached at [email protected].
