AT A GLANCE
• The New England Patriots plan to release wide receiver Stefon Diggs when the new NFL league year begins March 11.
• Diggs led the Patriots with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards during his only season with the team.
• The four time Pro Bowl receiver recently pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
• Releasing Diggs will also free salary cap space from his three year, $69 million contract signed in 2025.
Stefon Diggs Set To Be Released By New England Patriots Weeks After Cardi B Breakup
The New England Patriots have informed wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he will be released when the new NFL league year begins next week, according to a person with knowledge of the decision who spoke to The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not yet publicly announced the move.
NFL Network also reported that the Patriots have told Diggs he will be released at the start of the new league year on March 11.
Diggs appeared to confirm the news in a message posted on Instagram, thanking the organization and writing, “We family forever.”
The news comes weeks after Diggs’ highly publicized breakup with rapper Cardi B, with whom he shares a young son.
While the two developments are unrelated from a football perspective, they have unfolded back-to-back, adding another chapter to what has already been a dramatic offseason for the star receiver.
Diggs Led Patriots Receivers During 2025 Season
Despite spending only one season with the Patriots, Diggs quickly became the team’s most reliable receiving option.
He finished the year with 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, leading the team in both catches and receiving yards. His performance helped push New England to the Super Bowl, where the Patriots ultimately fell to the Seattle Seahawks.
Diggs also developed a strong connection with quarterback Drake Maye during the season. Maye finished runner up to Matthew Stafford in voting for the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award.
The 1,000 yard campaign marked the seventh of Diggs’ career, continuing a run of consistent production that has defined his time in the league.
Legal Case Adds Uncertainty Around Veteran Receiver
Diggs’ pending release comes weeks after he pleaded not guilty to charges tied to a December dispute involving his former private chef.
Prosecutors charged Diggs with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery. Diggs has denied the allegations.
It remains unclear what role, if any, the legal case played in the Patriots’ decision to release the veteran receiver.
Earlier reports suggested the team would have needed to navigate legal uncertainty surrounding the situation if Diggs remained on the roster.
Salary Cap Savings Factor Into Patriots Decision
According to CBS Sports, the team was likely motivated by financial reasons. Diggs was set to earn an additional $6 million on March 13, saving the Patriots $16 million in cap space.
Diggs signed a three year, $69 million contract with the Patriots in March 2025 that included $26 million in guaranteed money. He was scheduled to earn $20.6 million this season.
Releasing him when the new league year begins allows the team to clear salary cap space moving forward.
Diggs Now Looking For His Next NFL Team
At 32 years old, Diggs will again enter free agency while looking to continue a career that has spanned multiple teams.
If the release becomes official as expected, the four time Pro Bowl receiver will be searching for his fifth NFL team and fourth in four seasons.
His 2025 performance showed he can still produce at a high level, which could make him an appealing option for teams looking for a proven veteran receiver heading into the upcoming season.
Despite the controversies, the veteran wide receiver took to social media to thank Patriots fans following the news.
“Thank you for a hell of a year,” Diggs wrote in an Instagram Stories post addressed to supporters.
