Stefon Diggs Signs With Commanders on One-Year, $12M Deal to Pair With Terry McLaurin
Stefon Diggs has agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal with the Washington Commanders, pairing him with Terry McLaurin and closing the door on Brandon Aiyuk rumors.
The Washington Commanders have found their No. 2 receiver, and it’s a name that instantly raises the ceiling on Jayden Daniels’ passing attack. Stefon Diggs has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Washington worth up to $12 million, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday, ending months of speculation about who would line up opposite Terry McLaurin in 2026. The move also appears to close the door on any Commanders interest in Brandon Aiyuk, who has remained a free agent amid off-field concerns.
Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, spent 2025 with the New England Patriots on the back end of a three-year, $63.5 million contract before being released in March. He bounced back from a torn ACL to post 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns over 17 games, proving he still had plenty left after a decade in the league. The 11-year veteran has now played for four different teams in as many seasons, following stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before landing in New England.
A Fresh Start After a Cleared Investigation
The signing comes roughly two months after the NFL closed a personal conduct investigation into Diggs tied to an alleged December 2025 incident, with the league determining there was insufficient evidence to support a violation. That resolution removed any lingering suspension risk and effectively cleared him to sign with a new club without complications hanging over his 2026 season. Washington’s front office was reportedly comfortable enough with the outcome to move forward, viewing Diggs as a low-risk, high-upside addition on a one-year, incentive-laden deal rather than a long-term commitment.
The fit is easy to see on paper. Diggs gives Daniels a polished route-runner who has topped 100 receptions in five different seasons and racked up 11,504 career receiving yards, and pairing him with McLaurin creates one of the more formidable one-two punches at receiver heading into training camp. For a Commanders offense looking to build on last year’s playoff push, adding a receiver of Diggs’ caliber opposite an established No. 1 target addresses arguably the roster’s biggest lingering question mark. Bettors weighing Washington’s win total and playoff odds for 2026 may want to check the latest DraftKings promo code before those markets adjust to the news.
What It Means for Aiyuk and the Receiver Market
The deal also sends a clear signal on Brandon Aiyuk, who had been linked to Washington throughout the offseason but reportedly did himself no favors with a string of controversial social media posts. Aiyuk hasn’t played in a regular-season game since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2024, and the San Francisco 49ers already voided the guaranteed money left on his contract after he skipped rehab sessions. With Diggs now in the fold, Washington has little remaining need to gamble on Aiyuk’s situation, and he still hadn’t applied for reinstatement from the reserve/did-not-report list as of this week.
For Diggs, the one-year structure keeps his options open again next spring, but it also puts pressure on him to prove he can stay productive and available in a crowded receiver room. If healthy, he gives Washington a legitimate second option defenses can’t simply key on McLaurin, which could pay dividends for Daniels’ development and the team’s offensive identity as training camp rolls on. Full contract details, including guarantees and incentive structures, are expected to be finalized once Diggs completes a physical, but the framework of the agreement has both sides ready to move forward before the start of the regular season.