Training camps are just a couple of weeks away, and veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs is still out there, unsigned. He is arguably the best offensive player left on the free-agent market, and while most expect him to land on a roster before the season kicks off, his latest comments are definitely sparking some conversation about what kind of role he's looking for. Diggs recently dropped a bombshell on his YouTube channel, declaring himself the best No. 2 wide receiver in the entire NFL.
Diggs' Bold Claim: "You Can't Name a No. 2 Better Than Me"
Diggs has the numbers to back up serious production, no doubt about it. He’s racked up at least 1,000 yards in every season since 2018, with the sole exception of an injury-plagued 2024 campaign where he played just eight games. The catch, though, is that his most dominant years came when he was clearly the top dog, the No. 1 option on his team, not the second target. He didn't mince words, saying, "Everybody got a 1. Opportunities aside, people might say there's seven real 1s. In my opinion, I can compete with anybody, but take those as your 1s. You can't name a No. 2 better than me. There's not a No. 2 on a team. Let's presumably give people the credit and just say, 'OK, you want to take the No. 1 spot away.' Name your No. 2 receiver right now. Tell me how much he makes. My last question is: Is he better than me?" It's tough to argue with a four-time Pro Bowler who led the entire NFL in catches and receiving yards back in 2020 while playing for the Buffalo Bills. Diggs has always commanded respect as a premier pass-catcher, and he hasn't shown much in the way of regression since that career year. But by taking himself out of the conversation for the absolute elite, top-tier receivers and instead comparing himself to the next level of wideouts, he's totally reframing how the league should be viewing him. This might be exactly the play he needs to make to get off the free-agent market and onto a team before the season starts.Why This Shift Redefines His Free Agency
Diggs admitted there are probably only about seven "true" No. 1 receivers in the NFL, and he also conceded that almost every team already has their alpha dog in the wideout group at this point in the offseason. The 32-year-old becomes way more appealing if he's genuinely willing to take No. 2 receiver money and play second fiddle to a superior target. And based on his comments comparing himself to players of that caliber, it certainly seems like he's content to do exactly that. His last contract with the Patriots in 2025 made him the 22nd-highest-paid player at his position by average annual value, according to Spotrac. If he is truly open to a secondary role on his next deal for 2026, his asking price would likely be significantly lower than the $21.2 million he was set to earn annually on his previous three-year deal in New England. Depending on how much of a pay cut Diggs is willing to take for this new No. 2 role, he could sign nearly anywhere. So, with training camps creeping up, the question isn't if Diggs gets signed, but where and for how much, embracing this new, still highly productive, but potentially less dominant role.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.