Beat: Diggs with Raiders is ‘unlikely’

ESPN’s Adam Schefter later added that the deal is worth “up to” $12 million over one year. Diggs has been tied to the Commanders by local and national reporters for weeks. After seeing their lack of receiving weapons in training camp for a few days, GM Adam Peters finally pulled the trigger. Diggs will immediately slot in as the team’s No. 2 receiver, ahead of Antonio Williams and a cast of uninteresting veterans. The Pats limited Diggs to a 68 percent route rate last year, but he still managed to hit 1,000 yards via impressive efficiency marks. With Terry McLaurin operating as the Commanders’ No. 1 receiver, Diggs is unlikely to hit four digits again, but he should still offer fantasy managers usable FLEX numbers on a weekly basis.

Perhaps more notable is that Keim pointed out “other free agents don’t appear to be on their radar,” with Brandon Aiyuk presumably the “other” in this scenario. Diggs has long been linked to the Commanders as a potential fit, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported last week that “Washington is intriguing” to Diggs, so there’s a good chance some mutual interest exists. The Commanders’ receiver room is headlined by Terry McLaurin, but behind him is an unproven group in Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, and rookie Antonio Williams. It feels like only a matter of time before the Commanders eventually make a move to upgrade their receiving corps, and Diggs would provide a solid option opposite McLaurin after going for 85-1,013-4 with the Patriots last season.

The Raiders are reportedly rotating five different wide receivers through team drills, including Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Jalen Nailor and Dont’e Thornton. Tucker is the most proven player of the bunch and should be expected to secure a starting role. Things are fluid beyond that. McFadden named Benson, a sixth-round rookie, his “biggest surprise” of spring practices. He reportedly fostered a strong connection with QB Fernando Mendoza. Given his draft capital, Benson is likely a long shot to earn a starting role, but he also possesses intriguing upside as a field stretcher. Don’t bank on a breakout, but keeping an eye on him this summer is worthwhile.

The opportunity to play with Jayden Daniels and spend a season playing in front of his hometown could be enough to entice Diggs, a DMV native, to join the Commanders. There are reportedly four other teams that have also expressed interest in the 32-year-old receiver, but a signing does not appear imminent at this time. Diggs is nearly two years removed from the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season, and he still managed to post an 85-1,013-4 line in his lone season with the Patriots while appearing on just 55 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. We would expect the veteran receiver to find a new home sooner than later, especially with all teams set to being training camp later this week.

Fowler said a team could sign Diggs ahead of training camp, but didn’t do us the courtesy of naming any of those teams beyond the Commanders. He also pointed at the Ravens as a team that attacks late free agency often. Diggs is one of several unsigned receivers still waiting for a home as we near the start of training camp, and there’s a belief in his camp that he’ll be even better this year now that he’s shed a snap count he was on while managing 2024’s torn ACL recovery.

This comes a month after Diggs was found not guilty in court on charges that alleged he assaulted a private chef last year. Given the league’s review of the matter, Diggs won’t be in danger of suspension, which could spark interest in the 32-year-old free agent. Diggs has been linked to several teams as a possible fit, including the Chiefs, Commanders, and Ravens, while a return to the Patriots seems highly unlikely at this point. In his lone season with the Patriots, Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. While he’s unlikely to contribute as a true WR1 at this stage in his career, Diggs would be a solid WR2 for several teams in need of help at the position and could still provide an occasional splash week for fantasy managers.

He cautions that there’s still a possibility the Ravens address the position late in free agency, as Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel, and DeAndre Hopkins remain available. Still, he has the experience edge over the two rookie receivers and barring an injury stash situation it’s hard to understand the Ravens not keeping two players they just drafted. Considering Lamar Jackson’s history and the potential upside in Declan Doyle’s offense, Walker is an interesting buy in fantasy at this point — it’s just hard to make the case that he’s got a real floor.

Tucker, 25, is now the longest-tenured player in the Raiders’ wide receiver corps. Since being drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft’s third round, Tucker has had four head coaches, seven offensive coordinators, three wide receiver coaches and seven different starting quarterbacks. He has never cleared 700 yards in a single season, but his offensive environment has been a factor. Per Kubiak, Raiders receivers will line up all over the formation, as the X, Z and slot. Last year, Tucker ran 83.2 percent of his routes from the perimeter. Adding interior usage will benefit him. Although TE Brock Bowers will operate as the clear-cut No. 1 pass catcher, Tucker could warrant FLEX treatment if he can secure the No. 2 pass-catcher role/No. 1 wide receiver role this summer.

He also throws out the Falcons and Rams as “interesting landing spots.” It sounds like a potential return to New England is being tethered to the potential of an A.J. Brown trade, and with that feeling inevitable at this point, Diggs would then move on to the next part of his list if he wasn’t able to return to New England. Diggs has had a very quiet free agency to this point.

Diggs was facing assault chargers brought forward from a private chef, allegedly involving a pay dispute. The veteran wide receiver declined to take the stand in his own defense but prosecutors were ultimately unable to prove foul play, finding the claims unfounded due to a lack of evidence. Diggs should undoubtedly find his free agent market heating up in the coming days now that his recent off-field issues are behind him, widely regarded as one of the top free agent wide receiver available on the market. The 11-year veteran played the 2025 season as a member of the Patriots, catching 85-of-102 targets for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns.