Stefon Diggs tore his ACL in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL campaign. In hindsight, his Houston Texans tenure effectively ended at that moment. Houston showed their intentions when it restructured his contract into a one-year pact shortly after trading for him.
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So, for all intents and purposes, Diggs was a free agent well before the legal tampering period began on March 12. And, nearly two weeks later, he inked a three-year, $69 million contract with the New England Patriots.
Diggs knew he wouldn’t get a true apex receiver’s salary because of the injury, but still found himself in an intriguing situation. He’s the clear No. 1 wideout for up-and-coming quarterback Drake Maye and new head coach Mike Vrabel. And the WR has been confident about not just overcoming the injury but making an impact at Foxborough.
“[Expletive], when the whistle blows, we’ll see,” Diggs had said in March.
“Right now, I’m ahead of schedule. I’m trying to stay ahead of schedule. I pretty much take it day by day. I try not to put the carriage before the house… I’ll let you know, though. We’ll keep playing it by ear,” he added.
Diggs has always maintained the production of a great wide receiver on the field. His six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons prior to 2024 speak to that. However, his sideline demeanor and off-field actions haven’t always lived up to that billing.
Earlier this week, he was seen partying on a yacht instead of attending the Pats’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs). That, of course, didn’t sit well with Vrabel.
There’s technically nothing wrong with Diggs’ absence from OTAs since they’re strictly voluntary. But as New England hopes to take a big leap up the standings in 2025, Diggs’ participation would be welcome. Vrabel addressed both his recovery timeline and recent boat excursion on Wednesday.
“Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him and I and the club… the timelines, and the prognosis, we’re working hard to get him back and be ready to go. When he’s here, we’ll coach him and have him ready to go,” Vrabel was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
Steffon Diggs is going viral after women call him “daddy” while enjoying his time on a yacht with Cardi B pic.twitter.com/6vbXt1DcKI
— No Jumper (@nojumper) May 27, 2025
The NFL will surely investigate the substance Diggs distributed on the yacht. If it violates the league’s drug policy, Diggs will likely be fined and could be suspended.
Any suspension would be the first of Diggs’ professional career, but not his first since high school. He picked up a one-game suspension in college at Maryland for “touching an official in the face.”
Vrabel, Maye, and Co. will begin their first season together at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. If Diggs avoids suspension and fully rehabs his injury, he’ll join them for the 1:00 p.m. E.T. kickoff on CBS.
