Stefon Diggs has been released by the New England Patriots on March 4th after a tumultuous season that included a disappointing Super Bowl performance and multiple legal battles.
The Patriots’ decision to release Diggs centered on financial obligations, as the organization faced a $6 million roster bonus scheduled to vest on March 13, combined with his $20.6 million base salary, creating a $26.5 million cap hit. Diggs’ salary cap charge was set to rise from $10.5 million to $26.5 million, which was the catalyst for the move. If he was on the roster by the end of next week, he would have had an additional $6 million of his contract guaranteed.
Diggs, 32, had signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Patriots last March and quickly became one of the team’s inspirational leaders, as well as their top-producing receiver. He totaled a team-high 85 receptions for 1,013 yards with four touchdowns in the regular season. During the Patriots’ postseason run to Super Bowl LX, Diggs had 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in four playoff games. During Super Bowl LX on February 8, Diggs caught just three passes for 37 yards as the Patriots fell to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 in Santa Clara, California.
Diggs and Cardi B, who welcomed a baby boy in November 2025, ended their relationship immediately following the Super Bowl loss. Diggs is also facing lawsuits and criminal charges, as days before the Super Bowl he was hit with felony charges of strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanour assault allegations.
The Patriots will now need to find a way to fill that void for quarterback Drake Maye. They return veteran Mack Hollins and fourth-year pro Kayshon Boutte as their top receivers, with DeMario “Pop” Douglas, 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams and 2025 undrafted free agent Efton Chism III also on the depth chart.