The Stefon Diggs story has been a wild ride from the outset. After a year with the Houston Texans, where injuries limited his time on the field, Diggs went to the New England Patriots to pair with second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
It felt like a smart pickup. The Patriots desperately needed help at wide receiver, and Diggs brought experience and star power. But when he skipped the team’s first round of OTAs and was spotted partying on a yacht with girlfriend Cardi B, questions about his commitment quickly followed.
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Stefon Diggs Is Back for Mike Vrabel, Patriots
While OTAs aren’t mandatory for players to attend, it typically is a must for quarterbacks. And for a relative novice in Drake Maye, his collection of wide receivers would be critical to his success in his second season.
As a result, Diggs’s absence from Patriots OTAs was a surprise. However, videos and clips of the superstar wide receiver partying on a yacht at the time raised serious red flags around the league and even from the media.
But after the controversy, it looks like the former Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings star is back on the field. Talking to the media, returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who crafted many of Tom Brady’s offenses in New England, spoke about the general idea behind OTAs.
“It’s a voluntary part of the year,” McDaniels began. “I don’t know if you’ve ever had perfect attendance at these things in general. As a coach, selfishly, you love it when they’re all here because you feel like you got them all in the classroom.”
Josh McDaniels says Stefon Diggs is here today for Patriots OTAs pic.twitter.com/5YtjyPxqnK
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) June 2, 2025
Then, he shifted his focus to their prize offseason acquisition. “He is here today, and we’re excited to have an opportunity to work with the guys that are out here and available to us. I know he’s staying up to date on the information and the material.”
Emphasizing the time between now and the start of the season in September, McDaniels stressed that between OTAs, training camps, and practices, there is a long way to go for the group and for Diggs.
“I’m not concerned about Diggs at all,” he clarified. As an offensive coordinator and head coach with nearly 20 years of experience, McDaniels has dealt with all sorts of personnel in the locker room. So his vote of confidence might go a long way in securing Diggs’ role on the team.
For Diggs, the 2025 season is a prove-it year. After going down with an injury last year and finishing with just 496 yards, the 31-year-old might not get many chances with age catching up to him.
Before the 2024 season, he finished with over 1,000 yards in six consecutive seasons, including a 2020 campaign when he put up 1,525 yards. His best might not be behind him, but veteran WR will undoubtedly have to prove himself again with the Patriots.