Diggs in Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston

Diggs was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 2015 and began his career slowly catching just 52 ball for 720 yards and four scores as a rookie, though that led the team in receptions and yards. Blame some of that on a conservative offense headed by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and defensive head coach Mike Zimmer. Diggs continued to improve despite a rotating door of quarterbacks under center; Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins. His final two seasons with Cousins he cracked 1,000 receiving yards each year.

He was traded to the Bills in 2020, for among other things a first-round selection that became Justin Jefferson (after the Eagles inexplicably chose Jalen Reagor instead… sorry that pick will always annoy me). In his first year with Buffalo and an improving young quarterback (Josh Allen), he produced the best numbers of his career (127-1535-8) good for 20.5 FPts/G. He continued to produce in Buffalo with three more 100-catch seasons and finished top-15 in fantasy each year.

Finally, he was traded to Houston for a second-round pick where he was off to a decent start (15.2 FPts/G) through eight games before an ACL injury, but was the team’s second-best receiver behind rising Nico Collins. Diggs was let go this off-season despite a $16.6 million dead cap hit as the Texans traded for Christian Kirk from Jacksonville to go along with Tank Dell, John Metchie and others among a crowded receiver room.

Diggs in New England

It’s on to the Patriots for Diggs, a team which has been searching unsuccessfully for a No.1 receiver for what seems like a decade-or-more. Here are the most recent high draft choices at wideout for the Patriots (first or second round): Ja’Lynn Polk, Tyquan Thornton, Aaron Dobson and the infamous first rounder - N’Keal Harry in 2019.

They desperately need the elite Diggs to help out their young quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots’ offense ranked 30th in scoring, 24th in passing attempts, 32nd in passing yards (a.k.a. last) and 31st in touchdown passes.

Conclusion

Diggs can only help the team, assuming he’s healthy which is to be determined after the injury on October 27, 2024. He is “running full speed and getting more comfortable cutting and changing direction” according to a recent Mike Reiss report, which also said he was ahead of schedule for the 9-12 month normal recovery time.

Healthy, he’s better than 2024 Patriots leading wide receivers - DeMario Douglas (66-621-3) and Kayshon Boutte (43-589-3). Polk, a second-round pick last season, was barely visible (12-87-2). They also signed well-traveled veteran Mack Hollins. It is to be determined if they use a high-draft selection in 2025 for the wide receiver room, but at No. 4 overall there is a chance they could snag Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter CB/WR from Colorado which would change the equation. Until/if that happens, Diggs will likely be a “target hog” for Maye and a 1,100-yard, eight-touchdown type receiver with a fantasy value similar to Courtland Sutton (14.8 FPts/G) or Ladd McConkey (14.9).