Stefon Diggs reaction: ‘This is a great signing’ for Patriots
The New England Patriots finally added a top receiver for quarterback Drake Maye, signing Stefon Diggs to a three-year deal that is reportedly worth as much as $69 million, with $26 million guaranteed.
Diggs is coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 last season and is 31 years old, which is probably why he was still available and why he wasn’t the Patriots’ first choice to upgrade the wide receiver position.
Despite all that, WEEI’s Jones & Keefe were still happy that the Patriots signed him, not to mention a bit surprised. Listen to the full segment above.
“I am all in on Stefon Diggs,” Rich Keefe said. “This is a great signing by your New England Patriots. … I'm very surprised, I'll be honest. Very surprised. You asked me last week, what percent chance? I said zero percent chance. So, egg on my face, but happy to have egg on my face, because I think this is great. For the receivers that were out there, to me, far and away my top choice left.”
Adam Jones preferred fellow free-agent receiver Amari Cooper, but nonetheless approves of the Patriots signing Diggs.
“I'm stunned as well,” Jones said. “I can't believe they did it. I am happy they did it, because what's the alternative? The alternative is the wide receiver room is Kendrick Bourne and Pop Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, Mack Hollins. No.”
“This is much better,” Keefe interjected.
“You needed to bring someone in,” Jones continued. “And I have questions about Stefon Diggs, but having questions doesn't mean I'm not happy about the signing and don't think it has real potential to hit for this team this year.”
Jones and Keefe were surprised that the reaction from some fans on social media and the WEEI text line has been less positive because they think the Patriots are overpaying for Diggs. They said they’re not worried about the total money on the deal since less than half of it is guaranteed, and that they’re just happy the Patriots are spending on an offensive weapon, period.
“They needed to address offense,” Keefe said. “And they didn't get Chris Godwin. They weren't able to pry him away. The best guy still available out there was Stef Diggs, and obviously he comes with some questions, because he's available, right? If he was a stud, like he was a few years ago, he'd still be on the Buffalo Bills or whatever else. So, I love the fact that they spent the money. I love the fact that they're willing to spend the money at that position, which this franchise has really never done. And they had to maybe overpay a little bit to get him. Fine. That's great. And yes, for Drake Maye specifically, we've been screaming for a while, he needs all the help he can get. You gotta help this guy out. Stef Diggs helped take Josh Allen to the next level, and maybe he can help take Drake Maye to the next level.”
