When the The New England Patriots shook the entire NFL by cutting ties with four-time Pro Bowl wide receiverStefon Diggs, many thought that it was the correct cultural reset the franchise needed. Despite helping the team to reach the Super Bowl LX final this season, he was informed that he will be released at the start of the new league year.
One of the detractors of this move has been Skip Bayless. For the veteran analyst, the Patriots are about to find out just how hard it is to replace someone like Diggs by betting on new talent to arrive. His argument suggests that if you have something that works just fine, keep it.
“They are going to miss him”
Speaking on The Arena’s YouTube channel, Skip Bayless argued that New England is severely underestimating Diggs’ impact on their 14-3 run last season:
“They were 80-1 to win the Super Bowl going into the year, and they were the shock story of the year, obviously. They came, literally, out of nowhere, and he had a whole lot to do with coming out of nowhere. On presence, leadership, been there, done all that, practice hard, speeches, he’s a real one
Bayless made specific reference to Diggs’ Week 5 performance against the Buffalo Bills, where the receiver recorded 10 receptions for 146 yards, as a seen proof that the veteran can still dismantle elite defenses with ease. Bayless claims that releasing a player who commanded such gravity in the locker room will leave an inevitable hole that cannot be filled by cap space alone.
Why is Diggs being released?
While many speculate that his release is product or prompted by his impending April 1 court case regarding felony assault allegations involving a former chef, the reality seems to be leaning toward a financial standoff a little more.
Some reports inform that Diggs rejected a contract restructure aimed at lowering his massive $26.5 million salary cap hit for 2026. Given his refusal to modify the contract and facing a $6 million guarantee due on March 13, the Patriots opted to clear $16.8 million in spending room rather than carry the aging star’s heavy price tag. So yes, it seems his release was motivated by money issues rather than legal.
Now the Patriots will look for a known face to fill the space. Rumors say that Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown is one of the names written down, as he has a strong relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel and would provide Drake Maye with a WR1 in his prime.
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