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It looks like Stefon Diggs will have to find his fourth NFL team in as many years.
The New England Patriots are expected to release the veteran wide receiver after the new league year begins on March 11, ending his time with the team just after playing a role in helping them reach Super Bowl LX.
Diggs, 32, signed a three-year, $63.5 million deal with the Patriots in free agency last season. But he apparently confirmed the reports with an Instagram Stories post on Wednesday.
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Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots talks with teammates in a huddle prior to an AFC wild card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
“THANK YOU for a hell of a year,” Diggs wrote with a photo of himself in a Patriots uniform on the field. “We family forever [heart emoji].”
Diggs, who completed his 11th season in the NFL this past year, led the Patriots in key receiving statistics, including targets (102), receptions (85) and yards (1,013). He was a key reason second-year quarterback Drake Maye was an MVP finalist, providing stability at a position the team needed to upgrade last offseason.
While appearing at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, head coach Mike Vrabel praised Diggs, making his expected release interesting.
“He worked extremely hard during the time he was rehabbing from the knee,” Vrabel told the outlet, referring to his torn ACL suffered with the Houston Texans in 2024. “I think he was a really good presence every single week.”
But the team was evaluating what to do with Diggs, especially considering his cap hit would go from $10.5 million to $26.5 million for the 2026 season.
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots smiles during an NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
There are also his off-field legal issues that factor into New England’s decision, as he faces aggravated strangulation and other criminal charges from an alleged altercation with his personal chef in December 2025. He was arraigned on Feb. 13, just days after the Patriots fell to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.
Diggs pleaded not guilty to aggravated strangulation or strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery.
“We’re going to let all of that work itself out and then we’ll see what the verdicts are in the specific cases,” Vrabel added of Diggs’ legal issues, which continue April 1 with an additional court hearing.
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during Super Bowl LX Opening Night at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on February 2, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Diggs, who made four straight Pro Bowls during his years as Josh Allen’s favorite receiver with the Buffalo Bills, continues to be one of the more reliable receivers in the league no matter where he is. And he showed in New England that his rehab from the torn ACL was going well, tallying over 1,000 yards for the seventh time in his career.
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