Stefon Diggs remains unsigned heading into the start of training camps, despite being acquitted of felony strangulation and assault charges in May and cleared by the NFL of any personal conduct violations.
The 32-year-old wide receiver, entering his 12th NFL season, has not been signed by any team since the New England Patriots released him in March. His situation highlights a disconnect between legal vindication and professional opportunity in sports.
Diggs produced 1,013 receiving yards on 85 receptions in his one season with the Patriots—his seventh 1,000-yard season in eight years—while serving as a secondary option to quarterback Drake Maye. By any statistical measure, he remains an elite receiver.
Yet franchises including the Chargers, Giants, Commanders, Chiefs and Bills have not pursued the player who earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2020 through 2023 while with Buffalo.
"Professional athletes have a target on their back," Diggs' attorney, Mitch Schuster, told Fox News Digital in May.
Diggs was charged in December stemming from a dispute with his private chef. A jury found him not guilty in May. The NFL subsequently closed its investigation, determining insufficient evidence existed to justify a suspension.
In a recent YouTube video, Diggs challenged teams to name a No. 2 receiver better than him.
"Everybody got a 1," Diggs said. "You can't name a No. 2 better than me. There's not a No. 2 on a team. Name your No. 2 receiver right now. Tell me how much he makes. My last question is: Is he better than me?"
The situation raises questions about how NFL teams assess risk. While Diggs received legal and league clearance, teams face no documented consequences for not signing him. Diggs, meanwhile, continues to face professional consequences simply because allegations were made public, even though a jury rejected them and the league found no violation.
