The New England Patriots yesterday informed veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he will be released at the start of the NFL’s  2026 league year on March 11. The move comes following a productive single season in Foxboro where Diggs was a primary target during the team’s push to Super Bowl LX.

The catalyst for the decision appears to be largely financial. Diggs was set to see his salary cap charge spike from $10.5 million to $26.5 million. Additionally, a guaranteed $6 million roster bonus would kick in if he remained with the team through next week. By moving on now, New England avoids a significant cap hit as it looks to build around young quarterback Drake Maye.

On the field, the 32-year-old receiver was the engine of the Patriots' passing attack in 2025. Diggs recorded a team-high 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season. His reliability continued into the playoffs, where Diggs tallied 14 receptions for 110 yards and a score across four games.

However, the receiver is also dealing with significant off-field matters. Diggs faces felony strangulation and other criminal charges related to an alleged incident involving his personal chef. While Diggs has pleaded not guilty, he is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on April 1. It’sunclear whether these legal proceedings influenced the front office's decision to cut ties.

Diggs shared a message on Instagram thanking the organization and stating, "We family forever."

The departure leaves a massive void in the receiving corps for Maye, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in his second season. The current depth chart features veteran Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte, along with DeMario "Pop" Douglas. The team also has young talent in 2025 draft pick Kyle Williams and undrafted free agent Efton Chism III, but none of the returning players surpassed 551 receiving yards last season.

With roughly $35.3 million in cap space before this move, the Patriots are expected to be aggressive in finding a new No. 1 option. Potential free agent targets could include Mike Evans, Alec Pierce, or Rashid Shaheed. There are also rumblings about the trade market, with Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown frequently mentioned as a high-priced target.