Stefon Diggs’ New Role as NFL’s Top No. 2 Wide Receiver

NFL training camps are just around the corner, yet Stefon Diggs remains unsigned. The veteran wide receiver ranks as the best offensive player left on the free agency market and will likely land on a roster before the season begins. However, his latest comments suggest that he will take on a more modest role than the one he held last year with the New England Patriots.

Diggs recently stated on his YouTube channel that he is the best No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL. He has the numbers to back it up, as he has racked up at least 1,000 yards in every season since 2018 – save for an injury-plagued 2024 season in which he played just eight games. The caveat, however, is that his best years came when he was the No. 1 option on his roster, not the No. 2 target.

Why Stefon Diggs’ New View of Himself Matters

By redefining himself as a No. 2 receiver, Diggs opens himself up to a wider range of teams and potentially more lucrative contracts. If he is willing to occupy a secondary role on his next deal, his asking price would likely be noticeably lower than the $21.2 million he was set to earn over the life of his three-year contract with the Patriots.

According to Spotrac, Diggs’ contract with the Patriots made him the 22nd-highest-paid player at his position last season. If he is willing to take a pay cut for his new role as a No. 2 target, he could sign nearly anywhere. The number of teams with enough cap space to give him lead receiver money is slim, whereas more than two-thirds of the league still has at least $10 million in cap space, per Over The Cap.

Which Teams Need a No. 2 Receiver?

• The Washington Commanders seek a bounce-back year with a healthy Jayden Daniels at quarterback, but his supporting cast is questionable outside of Terry McLaurin.
• The New York Jets used a first-round pick on Omar Cooper Jr., but is he ready to contribute at a high level to a team that desperately needs to show signs of life?
• Alec Pierce secured himself a huge payday with the Indianapolis Colts, but he is the only proven option in a cupboard that is suddenly quite bare with Michael Pittman Jr. out of the equation.
• The Atlanta Falcons locked up their greatest receiving asset on a long-term extension this offseason and own plenty of depth at the slot, but could greatly use another piece on the outside.

Can Stefon Diggs Compete with the NFL’s Elite No. 2s?

Diggs has long been considered one of the premier pass-catchers in the league, but he has yet to show the same level of production as some of the NFL’s elite No. 2 receivers. If his target share decreases in his next situation, he will not have the production or skill set to compare with some of the more elite No. 2s.

Tee Higgins has long been considered the standard by which all No. 2s shall be measured. His partnership with Ja’Marr Chase forms the greatest one-two punch in any receiving unit in the league. The Dallas Cowboys also constructed an elite tandem last year and will once again, in 2026, roll out George Pickens as the Robin to CeeDee Lamb’s Batman. Plus, Davante Adams is back for another year next to Puka Nacua with the Los Angeles Rams and just led the NFL last season in touchdown catches.