By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
There has been recent noise surrounding New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs and his early regular season status, so let’s jump into the overall dynamic for him this year. We can start by highlighting just how dynamic Diggs has been as a receiver throughout his career. Few receivers in the league have matched the combination of energy and talent that Diggs has shown in his career, which totals 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns.
Although he is remembered for one particular moment as a Minnesota Viking, he has remained a consistent name for opponents to keep in mind when building a game plan. Ultimately, players are all human, and there are factors the game will present that Diggs will need to take control of.
1) Health
Providing explosive plays as a receiver after an ACL injury will always be, and feel like, an uphill battle. Examples such as Will Fuller, Michael Gallup, and Kelvin Benjamin from years past have shown just how difficult it is to regain the same form. An athlete must steady his belief in his previous talent while also gaining confidence in bursting off the injured knee.
Does Diggs sound and carry himself like an athlete capable of rebounding the way Cooper Kupp did? Absolutely, but the jury is still out. The initial signs before the season are promising, but nothing matters until the starters are facing him in a competitive scenario.
2) Age
The effectiveness of receivers tends to decline with age, and that much is clear to every fan. Once a receiver reaches 30 years old, it becomes a wait-and-see situation for everyone involved.
The receiver becomes a step slower off the line, recovers from hits less quickly, and experiences a domino effect that reveals a clear difference from their earlier years. As one of the older primary threats in the league, Diggs may look to further refine the nuances of his routes to maintain his production.
3) Emotion
Then, of course, there is Diggs’ well-known bubbly personality that cannot be overlooked. For the most part, Patriots fans should be excited about the energy he will continue to bring to the receiver room.
However, fellow receiver Kendrick Bourne already brings a similar level of hype, so it will be interesting to see if Diggs leans more toward being a veteran teacher during the regular season than anything else. That approach would seem to be more conducive to winning than simply adding another emotional high.
Overall, it is refreshing to see the Patriots feature a proven name at receiver after so often relying on drafted talent. Should it surprise anyone if Diggs develops quick chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye? No, but these factors will remain constant through both success and failure.
If Diggs can carry the same separation he is creating in practice into real games, the offense could improve quickly. A player like this looks forward to overcoming the odds.
Flavin Media 
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