At his Patriots introductory press conference, Stefon Diggs didn’t sound like a walking character concern – quite the opposite. With sharp eyes scanning a room of reporters, he confidently relayed who he’s been, who he’s become, and where he’s going.
“If I stay healthy, the rest will take care of itself,” the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver said.
There’s no smarter way I can find to say this: Diggs comes off like an alpha in-person, and his fiery spirit may be what the Patriots receivers – who lacked equal parts in production and maturity last year – need.
Diggs’ 31 years means he’s likely past his prime as a receiver but he was quick to rattle off the 1,000-yard pace he was on in Houston before he tore his ACL in Week 8. The upside to his advanced age is his perspective.
It’s easy for players and coaches to bull crap their way through introductory press conferences, but honestly, Diggs sounded remarkably candid – with the exception of giving an estimated return date from his injury, (he noted a few times he’s “ahead of schedule”). He spoke thoughtfully about his past sideline squabbles.
“When I was younger, you get in trouble a little bit, as far as like, being so competitive. Not from the standpoint of winning and losing, but mindset,” he said. “Don’t let it get you off your game, being too aggressive.”
“I feel like now, at this point, the madder I get, the more focused I get. I’d rather beat you than argue with you,” he added. “When I was younger, I was so caught up in maybe a shouting match or maybe going back and forth with somebody. But at this point in my career I’m a little older now and in a space where I’d rather give you a spanking than go back and forth with you.”
Dare we say that Diggs’ self-reflection and insight might bring…leadership to the Patriots’ receivers room? Barring another signing or trade, the Patriots’ wideouts are remarkably young. Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, the most productive receivers from last season, are both entering their third year in the league. Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are both walking into their sophomore seasons, but saw such limited play time and production in 2024, they’re extremely behind schedule for modern NFL growth. It’s not a development league.
Kendrick Bourne brings tremendous energy to the room, but he’s not the type of player to hold others accountable. He also missed a chunk of last year coming back from his own ACL surgery and spent a lot of 2022 in Matt Patricia’s dog house, so…a little less growth than what’s ideal. New England hoped K.J. Obsorn would be a natural leader in the room, but it’s tough to do that when you barely make a dent on offense.
Diggs is a competitor. Everybody knows that. But sometimes his origin story gets a little lost in his stats. At University of Maryland, he broke his right leg in his sophomore year, and suffered a lacerated kidney in his junior season. Minnesota drafted him with the 146th overall pick in 2015, and even after having a strong training camp, he had to prove himself capable of taking the field at the professional level.
“Everyone wants to have success in this league,” he said. “Everyone wants to play at a very high level, but I think I can help more so with the lows, just because I’ve experienced them myself on a personal level. The first three games of my career I wasn’t playing at all. It wasn’t until my fourth game that I got my opportunity. Taking advantages of opportunities and learning that sometimes the timing is off. When it’s your time to shine, shine. And if you don’t, you can’t blame nobody but yourself.”
“But I kind of learned that the hard way,” he added.
However the lesson got through, if he can pass it along to the younger guys on offense, it could be the best thing to happen that room.
Imagine if Diggs can return in Week 1, and bring his 1,000-yard season production level, while talking Polk and Baker through their own drama? The Patriots have missed elite guys who don’t take crap, or stand for it from their teammates. If Diggs has an attitude – it might actually be the kind that’s been missing in Foxborough.