Popular Former Vikings WR Could Be Cut Soon
Ex-Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs just reached the Super Bowl for the first time in his career — and he could be cut by the New England Patriots two months later, according to CBS Sports.
His 2025 production and off-field scrutiny leave the Patriots weighing a pricey roster spot heading into March.
Diggs evidently isn’t guaranteed a roster spot in 2026, even if he was clearly the most productive pass-catcher on Drake Maye’s team.
New England’s Offseason Could Put Diggs on the Bubble
It’s Diggs drama. Who knew?
CBS Sports: Diggs Is a Cut Candidate
Most haven’t considered Diggs a cut candidate, but CBS Sports‘ Tyler Sullivan sees it differently. He identified 10 high-profile release possibilities around the NFL, and Diggs got the nod.
“Stefon Diggs was one of the key cogs in New England, catapulting from a rebuilding team to playing in the Super Bowl last season, but his status for 2026 is hardly secure,” Sullivan scribed.
“Last offseason, the veteran signed a three-year, $65 million deal with the Patriots in free agency, and rewarded the team by becoming the first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. In 2025, Diggs’ base salary was just $2.9 million with a $10.5 million cap number, however.”
The Patriots should be in the business of adding offensive weaponry, not subtracting it.
Sullivan continued, “This coming season, that base salary jumps to $20.6 million, and his cap number rises to $26.5 million. That’s a massive number for a wideout who is entering his age-33 season and did peter out over the Super Bowl run.”
“The Patriots will likely look to restructure Diggs’ deal to get it to a more palatable number, but if the two sides cannot come to terms on a revamped deal, New England can clear $16.8 million in salary cap space if they cut him.”
It’s worth noting that New England would have the option to restructure Diggs’s deal without forcing him into a paycut; teams do it all the time, and the player rarely gives a damn. General managers basically move money into the future by using void years. That could be in play with Diggs.
The Legal Woes
In December, Diggs was accused of strangling his personal chef, a matter that awaits resolution in the legal system.
ESPN reported last month, “New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs pleaded not guilty Friday to felony strangulation and other criminal charges stemming from an alleged dispute with his personal chef.”
“The arraignment at Massachusetts’ Dedham District Court had been postponed until after Super Bowl LX so Diggs could play in the NFL championship game. At the arraignment, Diggs was scheduled to next appear for a pretrial hearing April 1.”
Of course, Diggs is innocent until proven guilty, but perhaps the Patriots’ brass knows more about the incident or doesn’t want to be associated with him any longer — if the roster release theories are true in the first place.
The Production in 2025
Diggs tabulated 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, his first in New England. He stayed healthy all year — quite the achievement after tearing his ACL midway through the 2024 campaign — and served as Maye’s top target.
One might argue that retaining Diggs — if there were no charges — should feel like a no-brainer. Then, the Patriots could use a 1st- or 2nd-Round pick on a rookie wide receiver to pair with Diggs. In fact, that feels like the plan most teams would enact when pickings are slim at wide receiver.
Among all wideouts in 2025 with at least 50 routes, Diggs ranked eighth per total EPA (expected points added). Via adding points on the scoreboard — you know, wins — Diggs was a Top 8 commodity by the efficiency numbers.
Those don’t grow on trees.
T.J. Hockenson Mentioned, Too
Incidentally, the Vikings received a mention, too, in Sullivan’s piece: tight end T.J. Hockenson.
He noted on a possible release, “The Vikings have already started to move on from veterans to clear space, including Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave. Minnesota finds itself in a bind with the salary cap, as it is still $45.5 million over, so more trimming could be coming.”
“With Hockenson, he is slated to have a massive $21.2 million salary cap charge next season, and there are no more guaranteed dollars on his deal, so something will need to give. The Vikings will likely look to trade him to get something in return, but may be forced to cut him if no deal arrives on their doorstep.”
Minnesota would need a new TE1 if Hockenson is cut.
“If they do go down that road, they’d clear $8.8 million in cap space with his release (pre-June 1) and carry $12.4 million in dead cap. If they designate him with a post-June 1 cut, they’d add $15.9 million in space with just a $5.3 million dead cap charge for 2026,” Sullivan concluded.
Diggs and Hockenson should learn their roster fates sometime next week, as free agency gets underway.
One receiver who could be available to New England at Pick No. 31 is Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion. He’s a mock-draft darling at that spot.
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