Eliot Wolf hints Patriots may not be done with Stefon Diggs after shocking release

If you follow the New England Patriots, you know the last few days have been a total rollercoaster. First, the news dropped that the team officially released their star wideout, Stefon Diggs. Then, before fans could even process seeing #1 in a different jersey, Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf stepped to the mic and dropped a cryptic hint that had everyone scratching their heads.

Patriots part ways with Stefon Diggs while quietly leaving the reunion card on the table

When asked if the team was done with Diggs for good, Wolf didn't shut it down. Instead, he said, “We’re always looking for ways to improve the team… I’m not gonna say that anything’s final at any position… Wherever he goes next, if it’s elsewhere, if he comes back here, he’s gonna have a tremendous season.” But before you go buying a 2026 Diggs jersey, let’s look at what’s actually happening behind the scenes. Because in the NFL, "the door is open" usually comes with a lot of fine print.

Let’s be real: this move was 100% about the Benjamins. Stefon Diggs is a superstar, but he was scheduled to carry a massive $26.5 million cap hit this season. For a team trying to build a balanced roster around young QB Drake Maye, that’s a tough pill to swallow. By cutting him now, the Patriots saved over $16 million in cap space.

So, when Eliot Wolf says the door isn't closed, what he’s actually saying is: "We love Stefon, we just don't love him for $26 million." If Diggs hits the free-agent market and realizes nobody else is willing to pay him top-tier money at 32 years old, the Patriots would gladly take him back but only at a major discount.

The Patriots aren't exactly sitting around waiting for him, either. Just hours after the Diggs news, the team went out and signed former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. They are also heavily rumored to be in the mix for a massive trade for A.J. Brown. It feels like the team is already moving on to "Plan B" while keeping "Plan A" (Diggs) on the back burner just in case.

Stefon Diggs is now a free agent, which means he can sign with anyone starting... well, now. Rumors are already flying that his hometown Baltimore Ravens are interested, and even a return to the Houston Texans isn't out of the question.

Is the door open? Technically, yes. But it’s more like a "emergency exit" than a front door. Unless Diggs decides he’s willing to play for a lot less money to stay in Foxborough, this feels like a polite goodbye from a front office that’s ready to spend their money elsewhere.

Don't expect a reunion anytime soon, but in the NFL, we've learned to never say never.






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