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5 free agent receivers for Patriots to target after releasing Stefon Diggs
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- 5 free agent receivers for Patriots to target after releasing Stefon Diggs
The Patriots offseason started early this week when the team told Stefon Diggs that they plan to release him at the start of the new league year.
For the Patriots , once again, finding a top-flight receiver becomes a priority this offseason.
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The team entered this offseason set to return every receiver from last year’s roster.
With out Diggs, they still have Mack Hollins , Kayshon Boutte , DeMario Douglas , Kyle Williams , and Efton Chism III under contract.
Although they have numbers, the team clearly lacks a No. 1 receiver. This has been a common theme in New England . Last year, Diggs was the team’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.
The Patriots have numbers at receiver, but lack long-term depth here. Only Williams and Chism are signed beyond 2026. Boutte and Douglas enter this season in the final year of their rookie contracts. Hollins is also in the last year of his deal.
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The Patriots could look to add to the receiver position in the draft, trade market or free agency. It’ll be interesting to see how Mike Vrabel’s team handles this.
Here’s a look at five free agent options for the Patriots:
Alec Pierce
In free agency, Pierce is the only capable No. 1 receiver who’s still in his prime. The 25-year-old finished with 47 receptions, 1,003 yards and six touchdowns last season. Pierce is one of the best deep threats in the NFL. Over the last two seasons, he led the league in yards per reception (22.3 in 2024 and 21.3 in 2025). Last year marked his first 1,000-yard season, but he would likley put up better numbers if he landed in New England. Pierce would be a great addition for Drake Maye .
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Mike Evans
As of last week, the Patriots weren’t showing much interest in Evans. However, things change quickly in free agency. He’s one of the most accomplished receivers on the open market. The 32-year-old is coming off a season where a hamstring injury limited him to eight games. Before 2025, Evans had 11 straight seasons of over 1,000 yards. If the Patriots want to bring in a veteran X-receiver, it’d be hard to beat Evans.
Romeo Doubs
Doubs is one of the best available receiver free agents. The 25-year-old caught 55 passes for 724 yards with six touchdowns last season. He’s a capable No. 2 or No. 3 receiver with good size at 6-foot-2, 204 pounds. Doubs has finished with over 600 yards in the last three seasons. If the Patriots want to inject more youth into their receiver room, Doubs is an option.
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Rashid Shaheed
If the Patriots are looking for an explosive receiver to improve their kickoff returns, Shaheed is the best option. Last year, the Patriots weren’t as efficient with kickoff returns after Antonio Gibson suffered a season-ending injury. Shaheed is a two-time Pro Bowler and a 2023 All-Pro returner. Last year, with New Orleans and Seattle , he caught 59 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 29.8 yards per kickoff and 14.7 yards per punt return.
Deebo Samuel
If the Patriots want to add a veteran slot receiver, they could look at Samuel. The 30-year-old caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns last season. He’s a more than capable pass catcher who’s no longer in his prime. Samuel has dealt with injuries over the course of his career. He was a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2021. That marked his only 1,000-yard season. Still, he would provide the Patriots with an upgrade if they’re in the veteran receiver market.
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