The New England Patriots need some wide receivers, and Stefon Diggs appears to want out of Minnesota. Multiple reports indicate Diggs wants to be traded, and the Patriots should be in the market for a player of Diggs’ caliber. Not only would Diggs provide an immediate upgrade to the depth chart, but he could also entice free agent quarterback Tom Brady to come back to New England.
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots A Perfect Trade Destination
Stefon Diggs the Player
Diggs is one of the few wide receivers in the league capable of doing literally everything at a high level. While some fans might be taken aback by his (relatively) underwhelming volume stats, all the advanced numbers show that Diggs truly is among the best of the best.
In 2019, Diggs finished second in the league in yards per route run while averaging an absurd 17.9 yards per reception. This game-breaking ability speaks for itself and would be a welcome addition to a New England offense currently lacking explosive playmakers.
Stretching the field is obviously good, but Diggs is more than just a one-trick pony. According to Pro Football Focus, Diggs was the best receiver in contested catch situations from 2017 to 2018. Even when he’s not open, he’s probably going to catch anything thrown in his general direction. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s arguably the best route runner in the NFL. He has the skills to be the focal point of any offense and his volume stats would reflect that if he played in more of a pass-happy offense.
This isn’t the first time Diggs has publicly hinted at wanting a change of scenery, and there is a chance that Mike Zimmer actually pulls the trigger on a potential trade. According to Over the Cap, any team trading for Diggs would also receive a $5.5 million cap charge. This is essentially nothing for a player of his caliber, and the Patriots owe it to themselves to see if the Vikings would trade Diggs for the 23rd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Perfect Fit
Thanks to the pass-heavy nature of today’s NFL, it’s never been more important to surround a quarterback with difference-makers in the passing game. Julian Edelman is still a stud, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Additionally, Edelman is entering his age-34 season, so he can’t keep this up much longer. The Patriots need to add a talented receiver to pair with Edelman in the short term while simultaneously finding someone to build their offense around once Edelman starts slowing down.
Diggs has the chance to be that guy. At 26 years old, Stefon Diggs still has plenty left in his tank. The former fifth-round pick is signed through the 2023 season, which is probably longer than Edelman can play. New England can slowly incorporate him as the WR2 in the offense before making him the featured guy as soon as 2021. Diggs and Edelman would be one of the better wide receiver duos in the league, and Mohamed Sanu is still a solid depth receiver. This gives the Patriots – and hopefully Tom Brady – a strong, reliable supporting cast, even if N’Keal Harry doesn’t improve from his rookie season.
New England would have to part with at least their first-round pick in order to acquire Diggs. That may seem like a lot, considering New England used their 2019 first-round pick on a wide receiver and traded their 2020 second-round pick for Mohamed Sanu. However, Diggs is such a great talent that investing another high pick on a wide receiver is well worth the cost. With so few needs across the roster, the Patriots should do everything they can to entice Brady to return and make one more run at a Super Bowl.
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