Receivers coming off of 1,000-yard seasons don’t grow on trees, but one is sitting on free agency as NFL training camps get underway.
Stefon Diggs remains arguably the top available free agent — as he has been for weeks — and at least five receiver-needy teams have checked in on his market, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Diggs reportedly is “highly motivated” to join his fourth team in four years after he was cut by the Patriots. He was found not guilty of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges earlier this offseason.
Coming off an 85-catch, 1,013-yard season that proved his recovery from a season-ending torn ACL in 2024, the 32-year-old Diggs sounds realistic about his role, claiming recently on YouTube that he would be the best No. 2 receiver in the NFL. The Bengals’ Tee Higgins or Rams’ Davante Adams might object.
But, in other words, he sounds willing to play second fiddle to a true No. 1 target rather than commanding that role himself as he did for many years with the Vikings and Bills and then in his one-year stops with the Texans and Patriots.
So, who are the five mystery teams — if that’s not just an inflated number?
The most logical fit is the Commanders, who were thought to be in the sweepstakes to land disgruntled 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk. But then Aiyuk called out his former college teammate Jayden Daniels, Washington’s quarterback, on social media, and the 49ers don’t seem to be in a hurry to move on from the idle Aiyuk.
The Commanders “are intriguing” to Diggs, ESPN reported, because of Daniels and the possibility to return to the Washington area. He was born in nearby Maryland and played high school and college football in the state.
After Terry McLaurin, the Commanders’ receiver depth chart includes Luke McCaffrey, Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, Treylon Burks and Van Jefferson. No solidified No. 2 in the bunch.
“Something should shake out for Diggs,” Fowler said, “but, hey, look, these guys don’t always want to go to training camp and be in the 90-degree heat. They can wait a week or two before they sign.”
