Reports: Patriots, WR Stefon Diggs agree to three-year, $69 million deal

Stefon Diggs appears to be heading back to the AFC East.

The star wide receiver has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $69 million deal with the New England Patriots, per multiple reports.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the contract includes $26 million guaranteed.

Diggs, 31, spent the 2024 season with the Houston Texans after he was traded by the AFC East’s Buffalo Bills following a four-year stint.

The four-time Pro Bowler played in just eight games with Houston due to an ACL tear in late October. Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns before his season ended prematurely.

It was the first time since 2017 that the former All-Pro didn’t post a 1,000-yard season.

He’ll now join a Patriots wide receiver room that was in desperate need of a true No. 1 option. New England went 4-13 last season, and a lack of weapons to support rookie QB Drake Maye was a big reason why.

Tight end Hunter Henry was the Patriots’ top target last season, catching 66 passes for 674 yards. Demario Douglas was the most productive WR, with 66 receptions for 621 yards and three touchdowns.

Diggs’ production through half a season last year would’ve ranked third for catches, fourth for receiving yards and joint-first in touchdown receptions on New England’s roster in 2024.

The star receiver is the latest addition for a new-look Patriots team. Not only did they fire head coach Jerod Mayo after one season and bring in Mike Vrabel, but they also went on a spending spree. New England entered the off-season with the most available cap space and made use of it by adding on both sides of the ball.

On offence, they picked up a handful of o-linemen like Morgan Moses but also added another ex-Bills wide receiver in Mack Hollins. On defence, the Pats added defensive ends Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, and defensive backs Cartlon Davis and Marcus Epps, to name a few of their acquisitions.

And while Diggs’ last stint in the AFC East ended on a sour note as he was dealt out of Buffalo amid rumoured tensions with star QB Josh Allen and frustrations of playoff shortcomings, his tenure was still productive. Diggs set multiple team and league records as a Bills receiver, including being just the fourth player to have four straight 100-plus reception seasons.

Through 144 career games between Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston, Diggs has caught 857 passes for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns.