FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have informed veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs that they will release him at the start of the 2026 NFL league year next week, the team announced Wednesday, ending his one‑season stint in New England.
Diggs, 32, led the Patriots in both receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013) during the 2025 season, becoming the first Patriots receiver to top 1,000 yards since Julian Edelman in 2019 and playing a key role in New England’s run to Super Bowl LX alongside quarterback Drake Maye.
The move, driven in part by salary cap considerations — Diggs’ cap hit was set to jump significantly for 2026 — will free up space for the Patriots as they pursue upgrades on the outside. Diggs posted a farewell message on social media Wednesday, thanking the Patriots organization and fans for “a hell of a year” and emphasizing, “We family forever … until we meet again.”
New England now faces a clear need at the top of its receiver depth chart with free agency and the April draft approaching, and is expected to explore options that could help support Maye’s continued development. Diggs, a four‑time Pro Bowl selection with more than 11,000 career receiving yards, will become an unrestricted free agent once his release is official, giving contending teams the opportunity to add a proven veteran to their aerial attack.
The departure marks the end of a productive but brief chapter in Patriots history, closing the book on a season where Diggs delivered consistently while setting standards that New England hopes to build upon as it reshapes its offense for 2026 and beyond.
EasySportz will have more updates on this developing story as it unfolds.
