On Tuesday, former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs secured his return to the AFC East by signing a deal with the New England Patriots to become quarterback Drake Maye's new top target.
The 31-year-old wideout reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with the Patriots worth up to $69 million, including $26 million guaranteed.
The move brings his one-year stint with the Houston Texans to an end. Diggs only played eight games in Houston in 2024, recording 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns before tearing his ACL on Oct. 27.
Diggs marked his return to the AFC East, where he played four seasons for the Bills, with a mysterious photo on Instagram just minutes after the deal was announced.
Diggs made four straight Pro Bowls in Buffalo while helping future NFL MVP Josh Allen flourish into one of the league's best quarterbacks. The dynamic duo went 6-2 against New England from 2020-2023, winning the AFC East division title each season.
Despite the team's success, the mercurial wide receiver's time with the Bills ended in a "messy" split, as the Bills decided he was no longer an essential piece to the offense.
Here is the image Diggs picked out to share with his 1.8 million Instagram followers after the news came out that he was guaranteed to face the Bills with the Patriots six times in the next three seasons.
New Patriots WR Stefon Diggs’ first Instagram post after signing with New England:
— Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) March 25, 2025
(IG: stefondiggs) pic.twitter.com/Ijs6puIBr4
Some fans saw it as an ominous message directed at his old team, while others inferred that the face was his reaction to securing the huge new contract.
Diggs is reportedly ahead of schedule on his recovery from his ACL injury, which helped him convince the Patriots to give him the three-year deal. He on track to return for the start of the 2025 NFL season.
