{"id":85669,"date":"2025-08-31T03:21:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T03:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=85669"},"modified":"2025-08-31T03:21:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T03:21:16","slug":"report-patriots-new-signing-emerges-as-top-bounce-back-candidate-for-2025-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=85669","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Patriots\u2019 new signing emerges as top bounce-back candidate for 2025 season"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"l-article__header\">\n<h3 class=\"c-headline c-headline--extra-large entry-title\">Patriots New Signing Named Top \u2018Bounce-Back\u2019 Candidate For 2025<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"l-article__content\">\n<div class=\"c-content entry-content\">\n<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"has-video wp-caption \">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2226797070_4635ee-e1756521538259.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2226797070_4635ee-e1756521538259.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2226797070_4635ee-e1756521538259.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2226797070_4635ee-e1756521538259.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Stefon Diggs New England Patriots\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" data-img-load-time=\"1976\" data-dom-ready-time=\"4045\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The\u00a0New England Patriots\u00a0made some cuts to their original group of eight wideouts contained within the 53 man roster on Thursday when they cut both veteran receiver\u00a0Kendrick Bourne\u00a0\u2013 at his request \u2013 and 2024 fourth round pick,\u00a0Javon Baker.<\/p>\n<p>Now down to just six players in a receiving corps that also holds training camp standout and un-drafted rookie,\u00a0Efton Chism, some are concerned about the lack of receiving weapons for second year quarterback,\u00a0Drake Maye.<\/p>\n<p>However, some are less worried, including CBS\u2019 Joel Corry, who believes that current WR1, Stefon Diggs, could be set for a \u201cbounce back\u201d year.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt was evident that\u00a0Nico Collins\u00a0was the\u00a0Houston Texans\u2018 primary receiving option before Diggs tore the ACL in his right knee last October.\u201d\u00a0Corry wrote\u00a0on Friday, \u201cNonetheless, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The 31-year-old signed a three-year, $63 million contract worth a maximum of $69 million through incentives with the Patriots in March a couple of weeks into free agency. The deal has $26 million in guarantees where $20 million was fully guaranteed at signing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Stefon Diggs Could Be Motivated By Incentive-Based Contract Structure<\/h2>\n<p>In the \u2018Agent\u2019s Take\u2019 segment, Corry also points to the smart Patriots incentive structure for a reason why Diggs will be extra motivated to ensure he has a strong year in the North East.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThe Patriots did a good job of protecting themselves in case there are lingering effects from Diggs knee injury. Diggs is scheduled to make $18.3 million this year but $3.4 million is in per-game roster bonuses where he gets $200,000 for each game he is active. The lowest statistical thresholds for Diggs\u2019 $4.5 million in 2025 incentives are 70 receptions and 1,000 yards receiving.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If Diggs doesn\u2019t earn any of the incentives, he probably won\u2019t get a second year with the Patriots. He makes $22.5 million in 2026. Only $1.7 million of Diggs\u2019 $20.6 million 2026 base salary was fully guaranteed at signing. An additional $6 million that is guaranteed for injury (excludes the pre-existing right knee injury) becomes fully guaranteed next March 13 on the third day of the 2026 league year.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>What Are The Realistic Expectations For Diggs In Year 11?<\/h2>\n<p>No one is expecting Diggs to go back to being one of the top five or top ten wideouts in the\u00a0NFL\u00a0heading into his age 31\/32 season. But he still likely has upside as a lower end #1, higher end #2 in the league.<\/p>\n<p>Diggs was on track for a 1,000+ receiving yard season prior to tearing his ACL in Week 8 of the 2024 season, and head coach, Mike Vrabel, announced that he will be\u00a0good to go\u00a0come the regular season opener next Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>His rehab has gone well, according to sources \u2013 so it is certainly not out of the question that the team will be hoping that he can perform at 75% of the level he hit during his peak years in Minnesota and Buffalo.<\/p>\n<p>If he can lead the corps and top 1,000 yards through the air, the coaching staff and execs will likely feel at least modestly content with their signing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patriots New Signing Named Top \u2018Bounce-Back\u2019 Candidate For 2025 The\u00a0New England Patriots\u00a0made some cuts to their original group of eight wideouts contained within the 53 man roster&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":85674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - 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