As the New England Patriots prepare for the 2026 NFL season following their Super Bowl loss, uncertainty surrounds the future of wide receiver Stefon Diggs. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf addressed the team’s outlook, with free agency just weeks away and questions arising about Diggs’ status amid salary cap concerns and ongoing legal matters.
Questions Surrounding Stefon Diggs’ Role in 2026
Stefon Diggs remains under contract for the upcoming season, but his future with the Patriots is uncertain due to a significant cap hit that could prompt discussions about restructuring his deal or even moving on. When pressed about Diggs’ potential return, Wolf declined to specify, leaving his status unclear.
I’m not going to get into any specific players today. There are certain conversations that we’re having, and we’ll see what happens with everyone,
Wolf said when questioned about Diggs’ future.
In addition to contract questions, Diggs has unresolved legal issues, which add another layer of complexity to his situation with New England.
Wolf also discussed the team’s approach to strengthening the wide receiver position, revealing that the Patriots are actively seeking improvements both in depth and at the top tier of their receiving corps.
Yes we are looking at the wide receiver position to try to improve depth and at the top as well. But also when you run your offense and you have one of these No. 1 receivers, the quarterback can get in trouble by trying to force the ball to that person,
Wolf explained.
To answer your question, basically the more playmakers we have the better we are going to be.
Jared Wilson’s Positional Role Remains Undecided
Offensive line flexibility is another focus for the Patriots, particularly with rookie Jared Wilson. Although Wilson played center in college, he started at left guard during his rookie season with inconsistent results. Wolf noted Wilson’s physical and mental attributes give the team options about where to best utilize him going forward.
He certainly has the physical ability to play there and he’s also got the intelligence and vocal ability to play center,
Wolf said.
When asked about the decision to start two rookie offensive linemen—Wilson and Will Campbell—Wolf addressed concerns about the potential risks.
I don’t know if I’d look at it as risky. I think you have to do what’s best for the football team, and with our best five out there, I think we won a lot of games,
he said.
Obviously, the last game was not very productive in a lot of areas on offense. We’re just excited that Will and Jared are made of the right stuff, and we’re excited about what they’re going to do moving forward.
Draft Depth and Defensive Line Prospects
Wolf highlighted the defensive end position as an area of opportunity, praising the deep talent pool expected in this year’s NFL Draft. He emphasized how this aligns with the Patriots’ needs as they look to bolster their defense.
I think this draft offers a lot of different depth at varying areas, edge being one of them. I think it’s a fairly deep class at that position that’s obviously an area of need for our team, so it matches up nicely,
he commented.
Preparing for Free Agency with Cautious Optimism
Looking ahead to free agency, which unofficially begins March 9 with the tampering period, Wolf described the Patriots’ strategy as comprehensive. After a busy offseason last year addressing key starters, the team is focused on improving depth while remaining open to adding starters as necessary.
We’re going to explore every avenue to try to improve the team. We filled a lot of needs last year and we’re still building. We have areas that maybe we feel good about the starters, but maybe the depth is not where we want it to be. We have areas where we maybe need to add a starter,
Wolf said.
So, I think it’s going to be sort of a holistic approach, and working together with Coach Vrabel, his staff, the scouting staff, Richard Miller and Matt Groh on the contract side, and we’re going to try to build this thing to improve the team as best we can.
With the 2026 season approaching, the Patriots face several decisions that will shape their roster and competitive outlook. Stefon Diggs’ unresolved situation, ongoing evaluations of young offensive linemen, and the strategy to strengthen both offense and defense will be critical as the team aims to return to championship contention.
Eliot Wolf on if the #Patriots need a no. 1 WR:
"Yes, we are looking at the wide receiver position to try to improve depth."
"The more playmakers we have, the better we're going to be."
–@CLNSMedia | Question by @nicolecyang pic.twitter.com/k7uhvB4O5W— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) February 24, 2026
Eliot Wolf on if #Patriots are open to keeping Jared Wilson at left guard vs moving him to center:
"I think there's openness to everything with him."
"He certainly has the physical ability to play there. And he's also got the intelligence and the vocal ability to play center."… pic.twitter.com/UwJDPKcsnj
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) February 24, 2026
