Stefon Diggs remains available on the free-agent market, but that situation could change soon. The former New England Patriots wide receiver cleared a significant hurdle when a Massachusetts jury found him not guilty in his assault and strangulation case. Since that verdict, NFL trade rumors surrounding Diggs have intensified, especially among contending teams seeking veteran help before training camp.
Commanders and Chiefs emerge as realistic landing spots
Two teams continue to stand out as potential destinations. The Washington Commanders need another proven target for quarterback Jayden Daniels, while the Kansas City Chiefs are searching for stability around Patrick Mahomes. Both teams make strong football sense for Diggs, particularly after USA TODAY's Nate Davis identified them as logical landing spots.
Washington Commanders: A hometown fit
The Commanders enter the 2026 season with both pressure and opportunity. Jayden Daniels showed flashes last season, but Washington lacks depth behind Terry McLaurin. Deebo Samuel's future remains uncertain after a disappointing year, creating room for a proven veteran. Diggs checks several boxes: he grew up in nearby Maryland and starred at the University of Maryland before entering the NFL. More importantly, he still produced at a high level in 2025. Even after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2024, Diggs posted 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns with the Patriots.
USA TODAY NFL analyst Nate Davis pointed to Washington because of its cap space and need for another reliable receiver. The fit also works stylistically—Diggs creates separation underneath and thrives in timing-based offenses, which would benefit Daniels immediately. Further hints emerged when Diggs was back in the DMV area for a Mother's Day event hosted by his Diggs Deep Foundation. When asked about the Commanders, Diggs said, "Yeah, a little bit. I'm familiar with the city, and I'm familiar with the people. So, we're gonna see down the pipe over these next couple of months. What looks good, what makes sense. I definitely wanna shed some light on them and might go check 'em out for a little bit. It's love. It's hometown. So, it makes sense, but right now, I kinda like to take a breath."
Kansas City Chiefs: A need for consistency
The Chiefs have added pieces this offseason, but questions remain in the receiver room. Patrick Mahomes dealt with inconsistency from his pass catchers throughout 2025 before a knee injury cut his season short. This is why Stefon Diggs trade chatter around Kansas City continues to grow, even though Diggs is a free agent. The Chiefs have taken chances on veterans like DeAndre Hopkins and Hollywood Brown before, and Diggs would fit that category—except his production remains stronger than most available options. Money could complicate things, as Kansas City has limited cap space, but a short-term, incentive-heavy contract could solve that problem quickly.
For now, the Patriots move on without Diggs. But as training camps approach, the Commanders and Chiefs remain two teams worth watching closely.
