Stefon Diggs asks Patriots fans what jersey number he should wear as more details about contract emerge
Diggs made it clear that he doesn't want to steal Ja'Lynn Polk's jersey number.
Stefon Diggs is starting to get settled into his new home with the Patriots.
Now that his introductory press conference is out of the way and his contract has been signed, one of the star wide receiver’s next orders of business is to figure out his jersey number.
Diggs wants Patriots fans to help determine that for him. He took to Instagram on Saturday to ask fans what number he should wear after signing a three-year, $69 million deal.
“What number we wearing?” Diggs wrote in an Instagram story, with a picture of a custom Patriots jersey.
Diggs wore No. 1 with the Texans last season, but Patriots’ wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk currently holds that number. Diggs has no interest in taking that jersey number from the young wide receiver.
“Nah we ont do that & young boy boutta have a good year… believe in em,” he wrote in a reply to a user suggesting he wears No. 1.
It’s not uncommon for a star veteran to pay off a younger player for a jersey number. It’s happened with the Patriots before as former safety Adrian Wilson actually gifted Kyle Arrington diapers for No. 24 when he joined the Patriots in 2013.
However, Diggs doesn’t want to do that. He also has a set of numbers he doesn’t want to wear, either.
“No like ion even think I feel right in the 80’s,” Diggs replied to someone suggesting he wears No. 88.
Prior to joining the Texans, Diggs had only worn the No. 14 in his NFL career. He donned that number with the Vikings and Bills after wearing No. 1 during his college days at Maryland.
Beyond the jersey number, a few other matters are unsettled for Diggs as he begins his Patriots career. Diggs has a $2.9 million base salary, $12 million signing bonus, and can receive up to $3.4 million in per game roster bonuses in 2025, Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer first reported. But in order to receive the guaranteed money, Diggs will need to pass a physical, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported Sunday.
When Diggs met with reporters Friday, he shared that he was ahead of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear he suffered in October. He also said that the medical evaluation was one of the key parts of his two-day visit with the Patriots earlier in March.
“You get to know who’s around and get to know the coaches, and spend the time,” Diggs told reporters of his visit. “I think they kind of want to get to know you as a player, as a person, learn about where you’re from, what you like to do, your hobbies, X, Y, Z. Talk a little bit of football, but I think they do enough homework on the football portion.
“It’s kind of casual and then the next day, you tour the facility, you meet everybody that you’re going to be around. You see a couple players, you do maybe a little bit of physical stuff. Maybe a lot of it, you never know. But it’s a cool day. I feel like my individual trip was tailored because I was going to rehab and I had an injury. So more so to get to know you process and the things I do on the field, kind of like with some carryover. They knew a little bit about it from the past, so it was a good visit.”
That good visit led to the two sides agreeing to a deal on Tuesday, giving Drake Maye much-needed help at wide receiver. Diggs recorded six straight 1,000-yard seasons before the 2024 season, when he had 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com