Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs has seen a turnaround season with the New England Patriots, and now has the chance to go out with a seven-figure payday.
Diggs bounced back from an injury-plagued 2024 season with the Houston Texans, nearing a 1,000-yard season while helping quarterback Drake Maye become an MVP frontrunner. While Diggs has sparked controversy after facing a host of serious charges in the last week, he avoided immediate punishment and could be in line for a big incentive in Week 18.
Stefon Diggs Could Cash In
While the Patriots have already clinched the AFC East and face an uphill battle to win the No. 1 overall seed, Diggs could have some motivation to play hard in the season finale. As ESPN insider Adam Achefter reported, Diggs can earn up to $1 million by hitting a pair of contract incentives in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins.
“Patriots WR Stefon Diggs has $1 million in incentives on the line Sunday vs. Miami,” Schefter wrote in a post on X. “Diggs needs eight receptions to finish this season with 90 and collect another $500,000 in incentives, and 30 receiving yards to finish this season with 1,000 and collect another $500,000.”
Diggs has returned to the form that made him a No. 1 receiver with the Bills from 2020 until his trade during the 2024 offseason. He recovered from a knee injury that cut short his 2024 season and has helped the Patriots win their first division title since the departure of Tom Brady after the 2019 season.
The Patriots won the AFC East with their victory over the Jets last week combined with a Bills loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Diggs got into some serious legal trouble this week, with Boston 25 News, citing legal filings that showed the wide receiver was facing several charges related to an alleged assault.
“Diggs is charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an incident on Tuesday, Dec. 2, a day after the Patriots thrashed the New York Giants on ‘Monday Night Football,’ court filings show,” the report noted.
Bills Players Facing Incentives
The Bills have some veteran players with a chance to cash in on Sunday as well. As Bill Wolcott of the Democrat & Chronicle reported, returning cornerback Tre’Davious White can earn millions as well.
“White will make $1 million in incentives for playing time if he keeps his defensive snaps count above 65%. He’s currently at 69.9%. If he raises that 75% of defensive snaps, it jumps to $1.5 million,” Wolcott reported. “He also has one interception. One more and he gets $250K.”
Two of Buffalo’s top offensive players have some personal accolades on the line as well. Running back James Cook enters Week 18 as the NFL rushing leader, with second-place back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts playing before the Bills at 1 p.m. Cook could be able to wrap up the franchise’s first rushing title since O.J. Simpson in 1976.
Quarterback Josh Allen also has a chance to maintain two important streaks — the current record for most consecutive starts among quarterbacks and the NFL record for consecutive 40-touchdown seasons. Allen enters the final week with 39 total touchdowns.
Ex-Bills WR Stefon Diggs Has $1 Million on the Line in Season Finale