How Stefon Diggs' Contract Impacts Patriots' Salary Cap for 2026 NFL Free Agency

The New England Patriots are facing upcoming decisions on a few contracts that could be readjusted or cut in order to clear cap space ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

One of those deals belongs to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, as pointed out Sunday by ESPN's Mike Reiss.

Diggs, who earned a base salary of $2.9 million in 2025, is set to receive $20.6 million in base salary next season, according to Over the Cap.

That more than doubles Diggs' cap hit of $10.5 million from last season. He is set to cost the Patriots $26.5 million against the cap in 2026, per Over the Cap.

The room Diggs takes up on the Patriots' salary cap will increase from 3.3 percent of the cap last season to 7.5 percent of the cap next fall, Over the Cap reported.

The Patriots could save cap space by cutting Diggs this offseason. A pre-June 1 cut would leave the Patriots with $9.7 million in dead cap and $16.8 million in cap savings, per Over the Cap.

Diggs seemingly acknowledged the possibility the Patriots could release him this winter after his team's 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 8 in Super Bowl LX.

Per MassLive's Mark Daniels, asked whether he expected to return for another season in New England, Diggs answered: "Unless they opt out of the contract."

"I anticipate being here, so I hope so," Diggs said. "Love my guys. I had a hell of a year playing with them. Built some real family-like bond, so I hope so, I don't control it though."

The Patriots currently have $41 million in cap space, good for the 11th-most in the NFL, per Over the Cap.

If New England plans to make a move regarding Diggs contract this offseason, that decision could potentially come before he receives $6 million in guaranteed money for his 2026 salary on March 13, per Spotrac.

Diggs already had $1.7 million of his 2026 salary guaranteed at signing, according to Spotrac.

If the Patriots part ways with Diggs this offseason, the franchise may decide to use the additional cap space or one of its 11 picks in the 2026 NFL draft to target a wide receiver. Diggs impacted Drake Maye's breakout second NFL campaign by leading the Patriots with 1,103 receiving yards in the regular season.