On Thursday, the Patriots announced a forthcoming press availability set for Friday with a “free agent signing,” with many in the local media suggesting that this mystery player will be All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
On Wednesday, Tom E. Curran was asked by WEEI Afternoons what he thought Diggs’ best case and worst case scenarios would be for the 2025 season.
BEST CASE:
“The one topper I would say to Stefon Diggs would be, ‘Stefon Diggs: any port in a storm.’ And I totally believe that. So what’s the best case scenario for 2025? I would say 72 catches, 1,100 yards, 11 touchdowns. That’s your best case scenario.”
WORST CASE:
“Worst case? Not ready until Columbus Day. 47 catches, not happy with the situation. The offense stagnates, and the team’s looking for a trapdoor. And that’s worst case. I would imagine that that is 10% likelihood of the best, 10% of the worst.”
DIGGS IN CONTEXT:
Diggs is a 10-year league veteran who has reached some of the highest of highs a wideout can reach as far as individual accolades, twice being named an All-Pro, four times being named to the Pro Bowl, and leading the NFL in both receptions and receiving yards during the 2020 season.
The 31-year-old played his first five seasons for the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), where he is etched in Vikings’ history for being on the receiving end of the “Minneapolis Miracle” during the 2017 NFL Playoffs. One year later, Diggs signed a lucrative five-year extension to remain in Minnesota. But one year after that, the outspoken receiver was demanding a trade.
Ahead of the 2020 season, Diggs was traded to the Bills in exchange for a first, fifth and sixth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and a fourth round pick in 2021. Oddly enough, this also etched Diggs in Vikings history, as that first round pick in 2020 turned into All-World wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
In a rare “this worked out for both teams” trade, Diggs’ impact on Buffalo was immediate, becoming the fastest receiver in NFL history to eclipse 100 catches with a new team, elevating quarterback Josh Allen to a level the league had not seen during his first two seasons in the league. While Diggs and the Bills were never able to advance to a Super Bowl during his time in Buffalo, they did win the AFC East in all four of his seasons in Orchard Park, and were a fixture deep into January on the AFC side of the bracket.
With one year remaining on his deal and growing frustrations around the team never getting over the hump, Diggs was traded ahead of the 2024 season to the Texans in exchange for a second round pick. With Houston coming off a surprising turnaround season on the backs of first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie QB C.J. Stroud, the addition of Diggs was seen as the rich getting richer as Ryans and Stroud headed into their sophomore campaigns.
And through seven weeks, that’s exactly what it was, as Houston continued to find a way to win with a 5-2 record and with Diggs pacing towards over 100 catches in his first year with his third team. But in Week 8 against the Colts, after already catching five balls for 81 yards, Diggs suffered a grade-three ACL tear in his knee, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
So while Diggs will almost certainly be missing part of training camp and possibly the beginning of the regular season as he continues to rehab his knee, it was clear from his output on the field pre-injury last season that there’s plenty of gas still left in that tank. And while Diggs will be turning 32 years old midway through the 2025 season, the tail end of his prime would still elevate him to the No. 1 receiver on a unit headlined by Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and recent free agent signing Mack Hollins as recently as Tuesday afternoon.
Fingers crossed that we get to talk to him Friday in Foxborough. Not sure a press conference for the re-signing of Christian Elliss is exactly moving the needle.
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