The moment Stefon Diggs landed a 3-year, $69 million deal, with $26 million guaranteed, with the Patriots, it looked like a pretty sweet payday, right? But hold your horses. Because apparently, there’s more to this story than how it seems. Maybe it’s like those hilarious pranks your friends play on your birthday by wrapping a pretty-looking box with stones inside. Maybe injured Diggs’ deal with his new team isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It has a brutal reality check hidden inside that Diggs may have to stay wary about.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has found some mind-blowing details about the wide receiver’s multi-million dollar contract. Going through it would make you feel that either Diggs got robbed or that the Patriots are some kind of financial master minds. Here are the full details of Diggs’ contract.

Just to add in a few more details: Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio stated, “Diggs’ contract has $4 million in 2025 incentives.” Once Diggs reaches 70, 80, 90, and 100 catches, he will unlock $500,000 for each checkpoint. Then, there’s also $500,000 at 1,000, 1,100, 1,200, and 1,300 receiving yards. All are related to his performance incentives. But the thing that actually caught our eye from the details emerging out of Diggs’ contract is his $200,000 clause.

Apparently, Diggs will keep on losing $200,000 for each game he misses throughout his 3 years in New England. This means that Diggs, who is coming off a torn ACL last season, will either have to play or risk losing $200,000 every week. As Florio pointed out, “It’s basically a one-year, $18.5 million deal that includes very high per-game roster bonuses.” Still, Diggs will have a chance to earn $23 million if he hits all his incentives this season.

Speaking of incentives, Diggs, a 4-time Pro Bowler, also has an annual $500,000 Pro Bowl bonus. If Diggs really wants to reach that $69 million, he will have to make the Pro Bowl every year. But also catch at least 100 passes for 1,300 yards in 2025. Not being able to hit those numbers will mean that Diggs’ $69M contract base value will remain at $63.5 M.

Now, going beyond 2025, Diggs’ contract will look like this:

But here’s another thing: Those details you just read won’t really matter if the Patriots pull the plug on Diggs. Yep, they also have an escape clause in Diggs’ contract by next March, as $1.7 million (subject to offset) owed for 2026. So, neither is Diggs’ contract worth $23 million per year nor does it carry $26 million in guarantees. Patriots can easily kick Diggs out after seeing whether he lives up to his expectations in the first year of his contract.

Considering that his $69M contract details are now public, what was Diggs’ mood once he heard the news of his signing with the Patriots?

Stefon Diggs expresses his true feelings after finding home in New England

Diggs spent his first five seasons as a Viking, where he never made the Pro Bowl. However, the moment he signed with the Bills in 2020, the player took his game up a notch. In his 4 seasons in Buffalo, Diggs never missed out on the Pro Bowl. Making 4 consecutive trips while continuing to breach the 100 reception and 1,000 yard mark every year. However, the moment he left Buffalo, his career suddenly took a wrong turn. It all started well with CJ Stroud in Houston. Diggs caught 47 catches for 496 yards and was probably on his way to another Pro Bowl.

But those hopes were squashed as he suffered a non-contact ACL injury late in the third quarter in Week 8 vs the Indianapolis Colts. However, now, with his Bills and Texans chapter behind him, Diggs is completely focused on his new beginning in Foxborough. After signing with the Patriots, Diggs told the media what he brings to the table.

“The production, it’s always been here. I can move the chains. I can do intermediate. I can go deep. I did that all throughout my career. My resume speaks for itself. I look at it definitely as an opportunity. What could’ve been, could’ve been. At this point, I am where I am, and I’m thankful,” Diggs shared. He also gave us a bit of an inside view on his ACL rehab, saying, “I’m ahead of schedule. I’m trying to stay ahead of schedule.”

If it’s true, then Stefon Diggs might not have to worry about losing out on $200,000 every gameday. And if he somehow switches on his Buffalo mode in Patriots gear, then there’s probably no stopping the 31-year-old. He wouldn’t just hit all the incentives but make New England his favorite playground once the 2025 season comes rolling.