08/05/26 03:51:00
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08/05 15:21 CDT Stefon Diggs is signing with the Washington Commanders, AP
source says
Stefon Diggs is signing with the Washington Commanders, AP source says
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
Stefon Diggs is signing with the Washington Commanders, a big addition at wide
receiver to give quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense a proven commodity
who showed last season he can still be productive more than a decade into his
NFL career.
The Commanders agreed with Diggs on a contract for this season, according to a
person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity Wednesday because the deal had not been announced.
Diggs, a native of nearby Gaithersburg, Maryland, joins Washington for a 12th
year in the league and reportedly can make up to $12 million. He spent last
season with New England, making 99 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns
in 21 games, including the Patriots' playoff run to the Super Bowl.
New England released him in March, and the 32-year-old went unsigned in free
agency while facing strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with
a dispute with his former private chef. Diggs was found not guilty in May, and
the NFL said in June that he wouldn't face any discipline after a review
determined there was not enough evidence to punish him under its personal
conduct policy.
The Commanders had a hole at the position, and they are banking on Diggs
filling it. The in-house options of Treylon Burks and Luke McCaffrey would have
put Daniels in a tough spot and likely made No. 1 receiver McLaurin deal with
plenty of double teams this coming season.
Signing Diggs could rule out going after Brandon Aiyuk, a friend of Daniels'
who is still under contract with San Francisco. Aiyuk said on social media in
June that he would join Washington immediately if the 49ers released him.
Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list out West, while Diggs is now in an
NFC East that features receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens with Dallas,
DeVonta Smith with Philadelphia and Malik Nabers with the New York Giants.
Diggs previously played for Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston during a career that
included him being an All-Pro selection in 2020, when he led all players with
127 catches and 1,535 yards. Since making his debut in 2015 after the Vikings
took him in the fifth round of the draft that year, Diggs has 1,025 catches for
12,523 yards and 79 TDs in the regular season and playoffs combined.
That included the "Minneapolis Miracle" catch for Minnesota in the divisional
round in January 2018. With 10 seconds left, Diggs leapt and evaded a tackle to
score a 61-yard touchdown and beat New Orleans 29-24.
Off the field, it has been a more tumultuous ride, including getting fined more
than $200,000 by the Vikings during his final season with them in 2019 for
unexcused practice absences. Diggs was traded to Buffalo in March 2020.
Diggs led the Bills in receiving four seasons in a row, but sideline outbursts
and cryptic social media messages were also part of his tenure before being
traded to Houston in April 2024. A torn ACL ended his time with the Texans, and
skipping a voluntary offseason workout got him off to a bumpy start with the
Patriots before he turned out to be a reliable option for QB Drake Maye.
Cut in part because he was owed $20.6 million, Diggs now is teaming up with
Daniels, who was taken one spot ahead of Maye when they went Nos. 2 and 3 in
the 2024 draft.
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