Report: Reunion between Patriots, Stefon Diggs viewed as unlikely despite mutual interest

"“I do think an A.J. Brown trade will happen. I also don't think, for a variety of reasons, you'll see Diggs and A.J. Brown together in New England,” Breer wrote in his mailbag column. “Now, I believe the Patriots love Diggs, and Diggs would love to return. But any realistic talk about his return, to me, hinges on whether the Brown trade happens. Assuming Brown does become a Patriot, I think Diggs will probably be somewhere in that one-year, $10 million range.”"

"The Patriots would be taking on the majority of Brown's salary when they trade for him; that was a key reason for the trade talks being tabled until June 1. So, New England would be on the books for his $32 million AAV contract, along with the $68 million they're due to pay newly acquired receiver Romeo Doubs over the next four years."

"Breer doesn't seem to see a world where the Patriots would allocate another chunk of cap space to Diggs to make him essentially the third wide receiver on the team. And it's also not a certainty that Diggs would embrace the role of a third wide receiver, considering he's coming off a 1,000-yard receiving season as the top receive"

Stefon Diggs shows growing interest in rejoining the New England Patriots, but a reunion is viewed as unlikely. League expectations hinge on whether an A.J. Brown trade happens. Albert Breer reports that the Patriots love Diggs and Diggs would like to return, yet realistic return talks depend on the Brown trade outcome. If Brown becomes a Patriot, Diggs would likely fit a one-year, $10 million range. The Patriots would also assume most of Brown’s salary in the trade, and they would carry Brown’s $32 million AAV plus $68 million owed to Romeo Doubs over four years. Allocating additional cap space for Diggs as a third receiver is seen as unlikely, especially after a 1,000-yard season as the top target.

Read at Boston.com