Patriots Coach Vrabel Effectively Rules Out Stefon Diggs Reunion Despite Not Closing Door Completely
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel indicated Wednesday that New England is not currently exploring a reunion with wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was released in March. Diggs led the Patriots in receiving last season with 85 catches for 1,013 yards during their Super Bowl run, but the team has since acquired A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs. The comments effectively cool speculation that the Patriots might re-sign Diggs to a cheaper deal, leaving the 32-year-old still searching for a new team.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel all but ruled out a reunion with Stefon Diggs, saying the team is 'happy with where we're at right now with the numbers and the people in the receiver room,' while stopping short of an outright no. Diggs, 32, was released at the start of the NFL's new league year in March despite a strong 2025 season in which he led New England with 85 receptions and 1,013 receiving yards — the franchise's first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. The Patriots have since bolstered their receiving corps by trading for star wideout A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles and signing former Green Bay Packer Romeo Doubs in free agency. Brown is expected to serve as the clear No. 1 option alongside second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who finished as NFL MVP runner-up last season and led New England to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl LX appearance before falling to the Seattle Seahawks. Diggs, now an unrestricted free agent searching for his fourth team in as many years, has hinted at interest from the Washington Commanders. He also remains involved in a legal matter in which a man accused him of drugging and sexual assault in 2023, though Diggs was recently acquitted on assault charges in a separate case involving his former personal chef.
What's missing
It is unclear whether any other NFL teams beyond the Washington Commanders have formally expressed interest in signing Diggs, or what contract terms Diggs may be seeking as an unrestricted free agent.
How coverage differed
The New York Post framed Vrabel's comments as a 'telling answer' that 'all but shut down' the reunion, emphasizing the finality of the decision. Newsweek provided more contextual background on Diggs's free agency status and Drake Maye's rising profile, framing the story more broadly around the Patriots' offseason trajectory.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Mike Vrabel’s telling answer on potential Stefon Diggs-Patriots reunion
- NewsweekCenter
Mike Vrabel Shuts Down Stefon Diggs-Patriots Reunion Rumors
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