The NFL season is only about halfway done.
But no time like the present to assign new grades to moves done over the offseason, right?
On Thursday, The Athletic handed out adjusted grades for free agent signings, including the New England Patriots' signing of Stefon Diggs.
Diggs signed too late in the offseason to get a grade on the website's initial charts, but in the re-grade, the Diggs signing was given a C+.
The Patriots gave Diggs $21.17 million per year for the next three years to be Drake Maye's top receiver.
"Diggs came in just under (Davante) Adams in AAV," The Athletic writes. "The Patriots should be pretty pleased with the production they have gotten from Diggs, who is 13 months removed from a torn ACL. Diggs is running a lot of possession routes, operating from the slot on 46 percent of his snaps. He has been a go-to security blanket for Maye, particularly in scramble drills, when Diggs can use his instincts to find open grass. Diggs has been very efficient. He is 10th among receivers with at least 10 targets in EPA per route run. At the same time, it is a sizable price tag for a receiver who has only played 56 percent of the offensive snaps this season. Adams has played 74 percent of the offensive snaps. Adams also has the touchdown production. The Patriots had to push some markets higher to add the proven talent they needed. That is a theme with their free-agent period."
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It's been a big boost for New England that Diggs recovered quickly from his 2024 ACL tear to get back on the field right away this season.
The Patriots have been one of the NFL's top surprises, at 8-2 entering Week 11.
Without Diggs, the Pats' offense would've lacked a surefire No. 1 wide receiver. Maye probably would've taken a step forward regardless, but maybe not as big of one.
It's hard to say a move that helped a team start 8-2 wasn't a good one, but the Diggs grade likely depends most on how the contract ages the rest of this season and into the next couple.
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