Written by Mykail Mereau
Stefon Diggs has returned to the AFC East, but as a New England Patriot. The former Buffalo Bills wide receiver signed a three year deal with New England worth $69 million with $26 million guaranteed. This move by the Patriots helps their offense and the development of Drake Maye going into his second season in the league. But folks in the media wonder did Diggs only signed with New England to get back at the Buffalo Bills or does he still think that he can be a number one wideout in the league for the New England Patriots.
Diggs still mad at his former team in Western New York?
Last year during the offseason, Buffalo Bills traded away their star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for a second round pick. Now before the traded happened, there was a lot of speculation and drama behind close doors with Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills. It started when the Cincinnati Bengals came to Buffalo and manhandled the Bills in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round with a whooping scored 27-10. But during the final moments of the game Diggs was seen yelling at Bills superstar quarterback Josh Allen letting out his frustration to him. Then fast forward to the offseason, Diggs didn’t show up to the first day of mandatory mini-camp and head coach Sean McDermott told the media that he was “concerned” with his star wide receiver not reporting to mini-camp, which led to a lot of buzz to the national media thinking that going into the 2023 NFL season could be Stefon Diggs last year in Buffalo. After the season opener lost to the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, an Bills beat reporter, Timothy Graham caught argument between Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs in the locker room with Allen snapped at Diggs saying, “It’s one f–ing game!” Graham said that Diggs approached to Allen in the locker room and say something to him, which made Allen reacted that way to Diggs. The final nail in the coffin between the Bills and Diggs, when he respond to a fan’s comment on Twitter that Allen isn’t essential to his success, which he reply back saying, “You sure?” and the next morning Diggs was traded to H-Town after taking shots at the franchise quarterback. Which now led us to him signing with the Bills most hated division rival, the New England Patriots. So, New England Patriots legend wide receiver Julian Edelman shared his thoughts on the Stefon Diggs signing with the Patriots and said, “I like Stefon Diggs in New England,” and adding on that by saying, “Because Stefon Diggs is still pissed off at the Bills.” Now we don’t know entirely sure that Diggs is still upset on the way how things ended in Buffalo or does he still believe that he can be an number one wideout in the league for another team that desperately needs that number one guy in Foxborough. But one thing, that is for sure is heading into this season the Bills and Patriots games are going to be very interesting than ever before with the addition of Stefon Diggs as a New England Patriot.
How will the New England Patriots offense look like with the addition of Stefon Diggs?
Now with the Patriots getting an number one wide receiver on the roster with Stefon Diggs at the helm. How will their offense look with the addition of Diggs going into the season. Since the departure of their legendary players in Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski, the New England offense hasn’t been the same since then. With the addition of having an true number one guy on the team they can work in the middle of the field where Diggs does most of his damage in that part of the field. Diggs will be very reliable against the man and zone coverages for Drake Maye and the Patriots offense. New England’s offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can move Diggs around formation and find ways to scheme him open by giving him the ball. By the question for Diggs is can he stay healthy after coming off an season ending torn ACL injury with the Texans. If he can stay healthy and play the way that he did with Buffalo and Houston, then the Patriots offense could surprise a lot of teams in the league.
Will Drake Maye take a huge leap going into his sophomore season after Diggs signing?
With now having a number one wideout by his side, will Patriots quarterback Drake Maye take a big leap going into his second year. It’s no question that the plan for the Patriots this offseason was to build around their franchise quarterback and getting him some help. Maye showed a lot of flashes and promise from his rookie season showing the fans in Foxborough that they have their quarterback of the future going forward. Maye had fifteen touchdowns and ten interceptions by throwing over 2,276 passing yards with a passer rating of 88.1 throughout the season. The only problem that had Maye throughout his first season was no offensive line to protect him, no number one wide receiver, and poor coaching. New England only did two out of those three things is bringing in a new coaching staff with Mike Vrabel, once a former Patriots player during their dynasty days and now head coach of the team, with the returning Josh McDaniels as once again the offensive coordinator of the team. And going out there to get an number one guy at wide receiver in Stefon Diggs to help out the offense. So, New England is doing everything the right way to build their team around their young quarterback and help him succeed in this league. But it will all depend on if Drake Maye takes that next step in his development and bring back the Patriots to their winning ways once again in Foxborough.
