The New England Patriots have officially made their first major move of the offseason, releasing star wide receiver Stefon Diggs after just one season.[1] Diggs, 32, was just one season into his three-year deal with the Patriots before being abruptly dropped after the team’s recent Super Bowl run.
If one were to look at the decision to release Diggs from a “purely football” perspective, the decision might be surprising. Diggs is a veteran receiver who knows his way around the league and just came off an impressive year, hauling in 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns.[2] However, the NFL does not operate in a vacuum, and there are commonly outside factors that may influence a team’s decision.
Sources claim that the decision to release Diggs was “purely financial.” Diggs, who structured his contract so that the majority of the cap hit was absorbed in the second and third years, was set to see an increase in salary from $2.9 million in 2025 to $20.6 million in 2026. Additionally, his cap charge would have more than doubled, going from $10.5 million to $26.5 million.[3] In light of this, it appears that the team felt as though the increase in valuation was too much to justify, especially considering Diggs’s age (32).
And while the financial motivations to release Diggs might make sense, one cannot question whether his off field legal issues played a role in the decision. Diggs is facing charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault in relation to an alleged dispute with his personal chef.[4] The charges against Diggs are extremely serious, and although nothing has been proven, many fans were upset with the Patriots and the NFL for allowing Diggs to play in the Super Bowl in light of the allegations.[5] Despite the significance of the Super Bowl, it is of the utmost importance that the league maintains a positive image in the public eye. While the Patriots ultimately decided last month that allowing Diggs to play was okay given the circumstances, the case against Diggs is moving forward. In fact, Diggs is next due in court April 1, and it is with that backdrop one cannot help but think the Patriots might have been getting out in front of any bad PR headed their way.[6]
[1] Bernd Buchmasser and Matt St. Jean, How the Patriots can replace Stefon Diggs after his release, Pats Pulpit (March 5, 2026).
[2] Mike Reiss, Source: Patriots to release WR Stefon Diggs after one season, ESPN (March 4, 2026).
[3] Mike Reiss, Jeremy Fowler, and Jordan Reid, What’s next for the Patriots and Stefon Diggs after release, ESPN (March 4, 2026).
[4] ESPN News Services, Patriots’ Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to assault allegation, ESPN (February 13, 2026).
[5] Ryan Morik, Stefon Diggs’ court date moved until after Super Bowl due to ‘previously-scheduled professional commitment’, Fox (January 10, 2026).
[6] Reports: Patriots to release WR Stefon Diggs, Reuters (March 4, 2026).
Blake Breidenstein is a third year law student at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has spent much of his law school career studying how the law intertwines with the sports and entertainment industry. Throughout his time in law school, Breidenstein has supported the university's compliance office, working alongside a supervising attorney and staff in ensuring compliance with the ever-changing rules governing collegiate athletics. As a lifelong baseball player, Blake focuses much of his writing on the MLB, although his Buffalo roots occasionally turn his focus towards the Bills and Sabres.
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