NFL Exec Says Stefon Diggs Got More Money 'Than Everyone Thought' on Patriots Contract

The New England Patriots went above and beyond to sign wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason in the eyes of a rival AFC executive.

The exec told NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry that Diggs' contract was "(more) than everyone thought" he would get.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New England agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract, with $26 million guaranteed. The Pats reportedly pivoted to Diggs once Chris Godwin re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A $69 million contract is a sizable investment in a wideout who not only turned 31 in November but also suffered a torn ACL in Week 8. Reaction to the news was mixed in New England:

The Patriots were flush with salary cap space before free agency got underway, and having quarterback Drake Maye on his rookie contract makes this the time to be aggressive.

Wide receiver was one of their biggest areas of need considering they haven't had a 1,000-yard pass-catcher since Julian Edelman in 2019. It stood to reason a good chunk of the franchise's available cash would go to that position.

Once Godwin and Tee Higgins were off the board, Diggs became one of the top options on the open market.

It's fair to wonder whether he can recapture the performance level that earned him four straight Pro Bowl nods. Prior to the ACL injury, his 62 receiving yards per game with the Houston Texans were his fewest since 2017. There was also an outside perception he was losing some of his athleticism.

Maybe this winds up being another example of the Patriots' failure to find a true No. 1 receiver. The underlying logic behind the move was at least clear.