At first glance, the New England Patriots may have overpaid when they signed wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract. However, the details reveal a different story.
Only $16.6 million of Diggs’ contract is guaranteed; the rest is contingent on playing time incentives. This means Diggs needs to be on the field to earn the majority of his salary, creating a win-win situation for the Patriots.
Dr. Sharif Tabbah, who has been working with Diggs since he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, recently reported that the 31-year-old wide receiver is shattering expectations in his rehab.
In an interview with Mark Daniels of MassLive, Tabbah stated, “Honestly, I’ve done this for 14 years. I’ve never seen someone look as good as he does this early. I mean, it’s insane.”
He added, “I gotta stop telling him that, so he doesn’t get too excited. But he’s been doing great. It’s been a lot of fun to work with him.”
Before his ACL injury, Diggs started eight games for the Houston Texans in 2024, recording 47 receptions for 496 receiving yards and three touchdown catches on 64 targets.
Diggs began his career with the Minnesota Vikings, during which he accumulated 365 receptions, 4,623 yards, and 30 touchdowns in five seasons. He was then traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2020, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top wide receivers. In his four seasons with quarterback Josh Allen, Diggs tallied 445 receptions, 5,372 receiving yards, and 37 touchdowns.
While this recent update is encouraging for the three-time All-Pro, challenges remain. Given that Diggs sustained his injury in late October, returning by Week One still seems unlikely.