Patriots Free Agent Signings - 2025

[YankeeRebel]

 

[molsaniceman]

patriots signed WR Stefon Diggs, formerly of the Texans, to a three-year, $69 million contract.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Diggs’ contract includes $26 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old tore his ACL in Week 8 last season and may not be ready for Week 1. However, the Patriots needed a veteran wide receiver to add to a middling group that saw no wideouts over 700 receiving yards and just DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte over 400 yards last season. With less than half of the deal guaranteed, the Pats mitigate the risk that Diggs does not return healthy and productive. He was a Pro-Bowler and 1,000-yard receiver each season from 2020-2023 with the Bills and caught 47 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns for the Texans in 2024. Still a top target-earner when healthy, Diggs will aid QB Drake Maye’s development while the Pats grow the offense. Fantasy managers can treat Diggs as a stash that will have fantasy WR2 upside as the season goes on.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

patriots signed WR Stefon Diggs, formerly of the Texans, to a three-year, $69 million contract.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Diggs’ contract includes $26 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old tore his ACL in Week 8 last season and may not be ready for Week 1. However, the Patriots needed a veteran wide receiver to add to a middling group that saw no wideouts over 700 receiving yards and just DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte over 400 yards last season. With less than half of the deal guaranteed, the Pats mitigate the risk that Diggs does not return healthy and productive. He was a Pro-Bowler and 1,000-yard receiver each season from 2020-2023 with the Bills and caught 47 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns for the Texans in 2024. Still a top target-earner when healthy, Diggs will aid QB Drake Maye’s development while the Pats grow the offense. Fantasy managers can treat Diggs as a stash that will have fantasy WR2 upside as the season goes on.

Some of these are actually kinda funny.

Bills fans roast Stefon Diggs for signing with division rival Patriots

Buffalo Bills fans took to social media to roast star wide receiver Stefon Diggs for signing with the division rival New England Patriots.

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[BigKen]

I don't think it's $26 mil up front. It's $26 mil guaranteed with the other $43 mil in incentives.

From what I've been told by people who have been in on contract signings, all or some (depending on the amount guaranteed) is paid up front. It's guaranteed and has to paid in whatever manner is agreed.

Example. Player X signs a 5 year/ $150M contract and $75M is guaranteed. The player is drooling but his agent tells him about all of the risks and he agrees to take the guaranteed money at the end of his career and can have it put into a Roth IRA. Or he can agree to take it in equal payments over the five years and he gets his first $15M up front. It's all in the contract as to how it will be paid. Girlfriends and boyfriends don't have access to the contract and players do not get a copy to stick in the drawer of "stuff" under the kitchen counter. Agents keep the real copy as does the team and the original is filed with the NFL League Office.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

From what I've been told by people who have been in on contract signings, all or some (depending on the amount guaranteed) is paid up front. It's guaranteed and has to paid in whatever manner is agreed.

Example. Player X signs a 5 year/ $150M contract and $75M is guaranteed. The player is drooling but his agent tells him about all of the risks and he agrees to take the guaranteed money at the end of his career and can have it put into a Roth IRA. Or he can agree to take it in equal payments over the five years and he gets his first $15M up front. It's all in the contract as to how it will be paid. Girlfriends and boyfriends don't have access to the contract and players do not get a copy to stick in the drawer of "stuff" under the kitchen counter. Agents keep the real copy as does the team and the original is filed with the NFL League Office.

Wouldn't that be considered a signing bonus?

 

[cdumler7]

From what I've been told by people who have been in on contract signings, all or some (depending on the amount guaranteed) is paid up front. It's guaranteed and has to paid in whatever manner is agreed.

Example. Player X signs a 5 year/ $150M contract and $75M is guaranteed. The player is drooling but his agent tells him about all of the risks and he agrees to take the guaranteed money at the end of his career and can have it put into a Roth IRA. Or he can agree to take it in equal payments over the five years and he gets his first $15M up front. It's all in the contract as to how it will be paid. Girlfriends and boyfriends don't have access to the contract and players do not get a copy to stick in the drawer of "stuff" under the kitchen counter. Agents keep the real copy as does the team and the original is filed with the NFL League Office.

There are different kinds of guarantees that can hit at different times of when a player will get paid. Some of that they do for tax purposes as might be easier to figure out financials for the player when receiving different money over a 3 year period compared to getting say that $75 million day 1.

Now NFL teams have to put the money into an account. This is why teams like the Bengals struggle to sign great players to long-term deals because they don't have the cash on hand to put into an account and paid out at different times throughout the contract.

Signing bonus and any year 1 guarantees do have to be paid day 1 of the contract. A lot of teams have built in guarantees that don't kick in though until year 2 or 3 of the contract.

There is also a difference between guaranteed and fully guaranteed when it comes to NFL contracts. Fully guaranteed would be the money handed to the player on day 1 (unless they have language for the player to receive it later but still have it fully guaranteed as payment to the player). There are also then injury guarantees, offseason guarantees, and skill guarantees that are not always paid out but a lot of times when a contract is released an agent will call them guaranteed money the player will receive. That isn't always true but they want it to look good.

 

[YankeeRebel]

There are different kinds of guarantees that can hit at different times of when a player will get paid. Some of that they do for tax purposes as might be easier to figure out financials for the player when receiving different money over a 3 year period compared to getting say that $75 million day 1.

Now NFL teams have to put the money into an account. This is why teams like the Bengals struggle to sign great players to long-term deals because they don't have the cash on hand to put into an account and paid out at different times throughout the contract.

Signing bonus and any year 1 guarantees do have to be paid day 1 of the contract. A lot of teams have built in guarantees that don't kick in though until year 2 or 3 of the contract.

There is also a difference between guaranteed and fully guaranteed when it comes to NFL contracts. Fully guaranteed would be the money handed to the player on day 1 (unless they have language for the player to receive it later but still have it fully guaranteed as payment to the player). There are also then injury guarantees, offseason guarantees, and skill guarantees that are not always paid out but a lot of times when a contract is released an agent will call them guaranteed money the player will receive. That isn't always true but they want it to look good.

Hmmm I think I know the answer but ill ask.

If a FA player living in Texas signs a deal with NE and the guaranteed monies are distributed before he changes his residence how do the taxes on that money work, MA or TX?

 

[cdumler7]

Hmmm I think I know the answer but ill ask.

If a FA player living in Texas signs a deal with NE and the guaranteed monies are distributed before he changes his residence how do the taxes on that money work, MA or TX?

It is where the money is coming from not where the player lives. So NFL players for example when they play out of state for say 8 games a year have to pay taxes in those 8 states on what they would earn for that game alone. Now for those playing for a team that does not have income tax thankfully all the guaranteed/bonus money is set for that state. But the weekly wages is up for grabs depending on the state.

 

[YankeeRebel]

It is where the money is coming from not where the player lives. So NFL players for example when they play out of state for say 8 games a year have to pay taxes in those 8 states on what they would earn for that game alone. Now for those playing for a team that does not have income tax thankfully all the guaranteed/bonus money is set for that state. But the weekly wages is up for grabs depending on the state.

TY

 

[Yankee Traveler]

It is where the money is coming from not where the player lives. So NFL players for example when they play out of state for say 8 games a year have to pay taxes in those 8 states on what they would earn for that game alone. Now for those playing for a team that does not have income tax thankfully all the guaranteed/bonus money is set for that state. But the weekly wages is up for grabs depending on the state.

How is it different than a traveling construction worker that crosses state lines, has another states taxes taxes taken from his wages every week for 5 months but then claims them the next year and gets them all back?

Example, I live in TN with no state income tax, I work a short time in KY and am forced to pay the KY tax, but I get it all back.

 

[Southieinnc]

It is where the money is coming from not where the player lives. So NFL players for example when they play out of state for say 8 games a year have to pay taxes in those 8 states on what they would earn for that game alone. Now for those playing for a team that does not have income tax thankfully all the guaranteed/bonus money is set for that state. But the weekly wages is up for grabs depending on the state.

There a couple of things that we know about taxes.
1) you will pay taxes to somebody
2) you will pay taxes where you live
3) you will pay taxes where you work
4) if the taxes are higher in one state or you do not pay taxes in another, it can get complex
5) you will not pay twice. If you file and pay in one state, you will pay the difference in the higher tax state only.

I’m sure this does not clear it up but it gets clearer when you know the tax laws of the states where you will be filing

 

[cdumler7]

How is it different than a traveling construction worker that crosses state lines, has another states taxes taxes taken from his wages every week for 5 months but then claims them the next year and gets them all back?

Example, I live in TN with no state income tax, I work a short time in KY and am forced to pay the KY tax, but I get it all back.

It isn't much different. If you look up the rules on what is called the "Jock Tax" you can read about how it applies to anyone connected to the entertainment industry. Essentially if the state you live in has higher taxes than where you go then you are fine and it won't really change how much you pay in taxes but more where the taxes are paid. If where you go work though has higher taxes than where you live then you will pay the full amount to that other state but catch more of a break on your overall income tax since the majority of your contract would be played in the state you live.

 

[cdumler7]

There a couple of things that we know about taxes.
1) you will pay taxes to somebody
2) you will pay taxes where you live
3) you will pay taxes where you work
4) if the taxes are higher in one state or you do not pay taxes in another, it can get complex
5) you will not pay twice. If you file and pay in one state, you will pay the difference in the higher tax state only.

I’m sure this does not clear it up but it gets clearer when you know the tax laws of the states where you will be filing

There is one state that has some exceptions to the rule when it comes to only paying taxes once. The state of New York has some funky rules and let's New York charge you while also letting the other state charge you in certain circumstances but I'm not 100% sure how much this comes into play for NFL players.

 

[Southieinnc]

There is one state that has some exceptions to the rule when it comes to only paying taxes once. The state of New York has some funky rules and let's New York charge you while also letting the other state charge you in certain circumstances but I'm not 100% sure how much this comes into play for NFL players.

If new yuck charges you and you must pay it , your other state deducts whatever you paid new yuck.

 

[YankeeRebel]

 

[BigKen]

Per Mike Vrabel on Pod Cast yesterday.....(paraphrased)

"No. We are not done."
"We will not stop trying to improve this team."

Question - Are you looking to sign anymore wide receivers?

"If we can make real upgrades, we will make them at any position."


RUMOR after the pod cast:

Patriots have had ongoing talks with Keenan Allen and Tyler Lockett

 

[cdumler7]

I have never heard anyone ever question his work ethic. It really does boil down to personality and teammates struggling to be around him and also young QB's having trouble dealing with him constantly contacting them to let them know he needs more targets. And from what I have gathered talking to people connected he really is one of the worst in the league in this department. He will contact QB's outside of practice just telling them over and over he is not happy. He will also tell other players especially after a loss that the reason they lost is because the QB wouldn't throw it his way every other play and just won't stop.

 

[Southieinnc]

I have never heard anyone ever question his work ethic. It really does boil down to personality and teammates struggling to be around him and also young QB's having trouble dealing with him constantly contacting them to let them know he needs more targets. And from what I have gathered talking to people connected he really is one of the worst in the league in this department. He will contact QB's outside of practice just telling them over and over he is not happy. He will also tell other players especially after a loss that the reason they lost is because the QB wouldn't throw it his way every other play and just won't stop.

When you have a dog that won't stop barking, you remove their vocal cords?

 

[cdumler7]

When you have a dog that won't stop barking, you remove their vocal cords?

No, but you might try to remind them who is in charge. Diggs is a great player. And sometimes with more age and experience you see a player figure some things out and that not all battles are worth fighting. Throw in he might recognize if he really wants to maximize his last big contract maybe it helps in the long run to keep his mouth shut at times. I hope so. I really like Maye and would love to see him successful (not as successful as Nix, but still successful) and I do think this was a decent move for the Patriots (other than the contract), but this also is one that comes with a lot of risk.