The Patriots surprised the NFL on Tuesday by signing perennial pro bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three year, $69 million dollar contract. $26 million of it is guaranteed. 

The total break down of Diggs contract is as follows. Remember, it is important to look at the real money. 

• $16.6M fully guaranteed.

• $22.6M injury guarantee.

• $18.5M base pay in ’25.

• $3.4M in per-game roster bonuses in ’25.

• $5.5M in total incentives.

Bottom line, the contract is front loaded and the Patriots could get out of it if necessary in each year. 

On paper, Diggs numbers speak for themselves. 144 regular season games with 136 starts and has 857 receptions for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns. He had 100-plus receptions five times, including four straight seasons (2020-23). With Buffalo in 2020, his 127 receptions led the NFL. He recorded six straight 1,000-yard seasons (2018-23), including a career-high and NFL-leading 1,535 receiving yards in 2020. He also has 36 100-yard games. He has had a decorated career. 

Diggs tore his ACL last season and missed the remainder of the season. He visited with the team last week and took a physical. Apparently the team was comfortable with where he is at in his rehab. Reports indicate that Diggs should be ready for the season opener.

The 31 year old Diggs was on pace to have another big season statistically before getting hurt. He finished with 47 receptions, 496 yards and three touchdowns on 64 targets. It was Diggs first sub-1,000-yard season since 2017.

Diggs met with the media on Friday and when he was asked if he is still a number one receiver, Diggs did not say he is but if you read between the lines, he still thinks he is. 

“When I was factoring my decision, it’s like getting back on track. I played 10.5 years playing this game, would have been 11 if I didn’t get banged up. So, I definitely look forward to getting back on track.”

Diggs is a clear upgrade over what the Patriots currently have on the roster but coming off a an ACL injury and entering his age 32 season, He is not the same player he was two years ago but he could still be good enough and be a number one receiver on the Patriots.

Perhaps the biggest thing the Patriots need from Diggs is his leadership and professionalism. He will be an asset, especially to the young receivers like Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.

“I feel like I can help more with the lows…everything isn’t going to go your way. Sometimes you’ve got to learn that the hard way.” 

The Patriots will be counting on Diggs on and off the field. The question is, can he still produce like he has in the past. On Friday he said all the right things, now he has to back it up.

I will wait to see him in training camp before I judge the signing. On paper, signing Diggs is an obvious positive but it is too early to tell how well he will fit in regardless of his elite level status. 

For now, the Patriots did well in signing Diggs. Now they need to get him the ball and win. Let’s see if they can do those things.