The Patriots have spent most of the 2025 NFL offseason linked to potential trade rumors for several high-profile players.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf was rumored to be one of the big names circulating in New England before the Seattle Seahawks traded him in March to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second-round draft pick.
But Metcalf never considered the Patriots a destination, according to Sports Illustrated, forcing the team to “settle” for signing four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs.
“The team never had a realistic shot of landing Metcalf,” Matthew Schmidt wrote in a June 29 story. “Instead, the Patriots bagged Diggs and Hollins and also selected Kyle Williams in the NFL Draft.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel has remained active in his pursuit to acquire what many would consider a “true No. 1 wide receiver.” The hope is that an elite receiver will help Drake Maye develop into a top NFL starter. A quarterback who is capable of leading the Patriots back to their former glory.
GettyDK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers practice before the 2025 NFL season.
DK Metcalf Didn’t Want to Play in New England
The Patriots were interested in a long-term deal with Metcalf, but the feeling was not mutual, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran reported in March during an appearance on WEEI’s “Jones & Keefe.”
“I, kind of, in talking to you guys made it sound more like they were never in on him,” Curran said, according to Athlon Sports. “I’ve come to find out that they were. … They had conversations, an offer was not made, that’s correct, but I’ve kind of been redirected from folks outside of New England that they were in on him. He didn’t want to come here.”
He was not interested in living in New England, according to the Athlon story.
The Patriots are taking their chances with Stefon Diggs after he tore his ACL last season. His signing has been labeled as one of the “riskiest moves” heading into the 2025 NFL season, but many still consider Diggs to be an elite receiver in the NFL. Coming off the injury, most of those same critics are wondering if Diggs can become a “true No.1 receiver” again for the Patriots.
GettyNew England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs is coming off a torn ACL injury that cut his 2024 short.
Stefon Diggs Is on a Low-Risk, High-Reward Contract
Stefon Diggs signed a three-year, $63.5 million deal with the Patriots in the offseason. The deal only guarantees $25 million. DK Metcalf is currently on a four-year, $132 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. On paper, the Patriots may have made the smarter play if Diggs is nearly as productive as he was before the ACL injury.
However, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report does not agree that Stefon Diggs can return to his old form for the Patriots. Knox warned that Diggs is 31 years old and coming off an ACL tear. He emphasized that Diggs’ production has been declining over the years before the injury as well.
However, Stefon Diggs had six straight 1,000-yard seasons before this latest injury ended that trend. Diggs finished the 2024 season with 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns for the Houston Texans. Objectively, the stats say that Diggs was on pace for another routine 1,000-yard season. If he can stay healthy, the Patriots will have the elite receiver they have not truly had since Randy Moss.
Drake Maye recently offered his support to Diggs and shared that their lockers are right next to each other. “He seems like an awesome teammate,” Maye explained. “He has had some big games. I think once he recovers and can get back out there, I am looking forward to throwing him some footballs.”
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