Mike Vrabel and his staff are and should be confident about their culture
When it was reported that Stefon Diggs visited the New England Patriots, fans and analysts had many questions.
One primary concern was that Diggs is a 31-year-old wide receiver coming off a season-ending ACL injury. The reported visit included a physical to determine where the veteran wideout is in his recovery.
Another concern was Diggs’ public sideline outbursts and vocal complaints about wanting more targets. This seemed to run counter to New England’s avoidance of offensive tackle Cam Robinson due to potential character concerns.
NESN’s Travis Thomas and Sean McGuire debated the merits of the Patriots’ Diggs pursuit on the latest episode of “Foxboro Rush.” Both made good points with Thomas pointing out that Diggs might be a better fit on a contender rather than a rebuilding team. McGuire also noted that locker room dysfunction was a big storyline for the wide receiver room last season, so Diggs wouldn’t make it much worse.
There are valid concerns, but New England’s pursuit is worth the time. Diggs automatically would be the No. 1 wide receiver, and he would not deter the Patriots from trading for someone like Brandon Aiyuk or drafting a wideout in the 2025 NFL Draft.
New England also reportedly was interested in DK Metcalf, who also has a mixed reputation for being outspoken about wanting more targets. There also is mixed reporting on the Patriots’ interest in Robinson, so it seems like Mike Vrabel and company are confident in the culture they are trying to set up.
Diggs’ reputation also might be exaggerated.
“He got along with people well here… Everyone liked him,” a Houston Texans staffer texted NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry on Wednesday. “He was a good teammate and worked hard. No noticeable issues. He understood Nico (Collins) was the guy.”
The Patriots desperately need talent on the roster, and if Vrabel can provide a stronger cultural foundation to avoid the disasters of the Jerod Mayo era, it’s worth any potential detractions Diggs could bring.
You cam listen to more of “Foxboro Rush” on YouTube or Spotify.
