The New England Patriots had to pay a premium, but they finally found a viable number-one receiver.
By locking up four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs on a three-year, $69 million contract, the Patriots can breathe a sigh of relief. Sure, Diggs is coming off a torn ACL at age 31, but he’s got a proven track record of excellence (and a desire to get revenge on the Buffalo Bills).
As New England looks to rebound from a 4-13 season behind talented young quarterback Drake Maye, their passing game is starting to look viable. But the work shouldn’t necessarily be done now that Diggs has come to town.
In fact, one insider believes Diggs could be a contributing factor to the decision to draft another top pass-catcher with New England’s first-round pick.
On Wednesday, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston wrote that New England should still look to draft Colorado’s Travis Hunter if he is available when they pick at number-four overall, with Diggs helping ease the transition of the two-way star into the NFL.
“The veteran receiver options have thinned considerably, but Diggs’ acquisition doesn’t prevent the Patriots from continuing to look for more high-end help at receiver,” Perry wrote.
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“For instance, if the team was in a position to draft dual-threat Heisman Trophy-winner Travis Hunter at No. 4 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, having Diggs as a savvy route-running No. 2 option could be beneficial to Hunter as he picks up the finer points of the position after splitting his time on offense and defense in college.”
Hunter, 21, is unlike any player who has come into the league in recent years. He put up 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the Buffaloes, but also picked up four interceptions as the team’s number-one corner.
It should make the Patriots more confident about the viability of letting Hunter play both ways to have a qualified WR1 in front of him. Now, they just have to see where the dominoes fall in front of them when the draft begins.
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