It appears Stefon Diggs won’t be returning to New England anytime soon.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel all but shut down the possibility of a reunion with Diggs, who was released in March ahead of minicamp.
“I wouldn’t say anything is off the table,” Vrabel told reporters Wednesday. “We would want to add anybody that could help us. I’m not going to give a percentage on it, but I think we’re happy with where we’re at right now with the numbers and the people in the receiver room.
“And I appreciate Stefon as a person and as a player, and what he did for us last year. I value that, helped us win football games, helped us get to where we got, but right now I don’t think that’s something that I think we’re exploring, but I would never say no.”
With the team’s trade for A.J. Brown earlier this month, the immediate need to bring in a Diggs-caliber receiver has disappeared. Brown is the clear No. 1 weapon in the New England receiver room.
The Patriots also added Romeo Doubs in free agency, so the top of their depth chart is strong.
Last season, Diggs was a critical piece of the Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl.
He led the team in receptions with 85 and receiving yards with 1,013, becoming the franchise’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.
Diggs has been embroiled in a legal battle with Christopher Blake Griffith, a man who accused Diggs of drugging and sexually assaulting him in 2023.
He was recently acquitted on assault charges in a separate situation involving his former personal chef.
