Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans vast receiver Stefon Diggs (1) walks in the direction of the sideline earlier than the sport towards the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Troy Taormina-Imagn Pictures

Stefon Diggs has been probably the greatest wideouts within the NFL all through the final decade. After beginning in Minnesota, he hit his prime in Buffalo and spent final yr in Houston. His new stint began earlier this offseason when he signed a three-year cope with the Patriots, however he’s already on skinny ice.

A Stefon Diggs Launch Is Reportedly on the Desk

Nov 24, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Tracy Wolfson of CBS interviews Buffalo Payments vast receiver Stefon Diggs (14), place kicker Tyler Bass (2) and quarterback Josh Allen (17) after the victory towards the Detroit Lions at Ford Discipline. Necessary Credit score: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports activities

The flashy receiver appeared within the information when a video surfaced exhibiting him on a ship. Jimmy Golen from AP Information wrote Thursday: “Diggs, who has been linked to hip-hop star Cardi B this offseason, is proven in a video on social media speaking to 3 ladies on a ship earlier than he produces a bag of pink crystals. It’s not clear what the pink substance was.”

Patriots’ new head coach Mike Vrabel commented in regards to the incident: “It’s one thing we’re conscious of and clearly we need to make nice choices on and off the sector,…Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will stay between him and I and the membership.”

No wonderful or comparable punishment has been introduced but.

Launch?

The final word penalty would definitely be if he had been proven the door, and that rumor has been on the market.

Dec 2, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Minnesota Vikings vast receiver Stefon Diggs (14) in the course of the recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Discipline. Seattle defeated Minnesota 37-30. Necessary Credit score: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports activities.

Scott Zolak of Boston’s 98.5 The Sports activities Hub thinks the discharge is on the desk.

“I got here to this present yesterday with the opinion — not opinion, however the data that it’s on the desk,” Zolak stated on Zolak & Bertrand of Diggs’ potential launch. “That it’s being considered. And it’s not simply the boat. It’s not simply the boat. There are another issues that I’ve heard that put some issues in query. Are you all-in right here?”

Diggs has all the time been a controversial determine. He as soon as skipped observe when he was on the Vikings, and it sparked your complete commerce saga, along with costing him some critical money.

Extra from Zolak: “The movies look nice of him understanding. I’ve touted the movies. I do know you want diva receivers. I say he shouldn’t be reduce, as a result of I believe he would assist Drake Maye and this offense and Josh McDaniels, since you would have a real viable man that might set protection. Proper now, you continue to don’t have a man who units protection. I’m sorry.”

Diggs has been posting movies on social media of himself understanding all offseason. He’s recovering from a torn ACL suffered midway via final season. It’s his first main harm absence within the NFL.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

About that Launch

stefon diggs
Sep 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans vast receiver Stefon Diggs (1) reacts after a play in the course of the second quarter towards the Chicago Bears at NRG Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Troy Taormina-Imagn Pictures.

The Patriots signed Diggs after the primary wave of free company had already handed. They nonetheless wanted somebody to make performs in an offense that clearly lacked receiving expertise in Drake Maye’s first season, and having stable pass-catchers is essential for any younger quarterback. With all due respect, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, and Kendrick Bourne simply aren’t WR1s.

Apart from some excessive circumstances, such issues within the NFL all the time boil down as to whether a participant is nice or not. A backup most likely wouldn’t survive a video like that, however the Patriots want Diggs on the sector. Honest or not, that’s the NFL.

After which there’s a wage downside. He signed a three-year deal price $63 million with a $12 million signing bonus and a reported $16.6 million in ensures at signing. The Patriots must eat $8.6 million in lifeless cap this yr and one other $8 million subsequent season. It’s nonetheless doable, however Patriots followers would surprise whether it is actually sensible to eliminate the perfect receiver regardless of nonetheless having to pay him.

Diggs’ Profession

Diggs was a 2015 fifth-rounder out of the College of Maryland. It took him a couple of weeks to enter the rotation, and he made his NFL debut in Week 4 of his rookie marketing campaign, producing six catches for 87 yards.

All through his rookie season, he confirmed flashes and completed the yr with 720 yards and 4 touchdowns. A yr later, he and Adam Thielen emerged as a promising one-two punch, and he tabulated 903 yards and three scores. Within the magical 2017 season with Case Keenum, Diggs scored eight instances and generated 849 yards, in addition to the legendary Minneapolis Miracle.

Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Texans vast receiver Stefon Diggs (1) and Minnesota Vikings vast receiver Justin Jefferson (18) speak after the sport at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.

With Kirk Cousins’ arrival, he lastly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, doing it twice in 2018 and 2019, whereas including 15 landing catches. Following the 2019 season, Diggs wished out, and the Vikings shipped him to Buffalo for picks that might flip into Justin Jefferson and Cam Bynum.

In Buffalo, he developed an exquisite reference to Josh Allen and have become an elite pass-catcher, together with a league lead in catches and yards in 2020. In his 4 seasons in Buffalo, Diggs averaged 1,343 yards and 9 touchdowns per season, establishing himself as an elite wideout. He went to the Professional Bowl all 4 years.

Within the 2024 offseason, he was despatched to Houston in change for a second-rounder that Houston acquired from a commerce with the Vikings. That commerce in the end landed Dallas Turner. The Texans would possibly remorse the deal, as a torn ACL price him all however 9 video games.

Diggs will flip 32 within the upcoming season, and he must dial again some diva tendencies if he needs to increase his profession.

Editor’s Be aware: Data from PFFOver The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this text.

It’s Another Award for Kevin O’Connell