Veteran free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs put out several hints at his willingness to speak with the Washington Commanders about potentially joining the franchise. Now that his legal issues are over, he's looking for work, and a homecoming is certainly near the top of his preferred destinations.
But for now, the interest seems pretty one-sided.
The Commanders are reportedly looking for help at receiver. They are short of reliable options outside of Terry McLaurin. Though there is confidence in the young pass-catchers raising their consistency under new offensive coordinator David Blough, there is far too much at stake to bet on unknowns alone.
Commanders' radio silence on Stefon Diggs right now speaks volumes
Diggs is among the most experienced and productive wide receivers remaining on the market. However, the silence from Washington up to this point is deafening.
Peters has not made his move. There could very well be interest in Diggs, but that hasn't been made public knowledge. Looking at the way Washington's front-office leader has moved since taking the job, that is unlikely to change.
It's the right way of doing business. But if the Commanders intended to bring Diggs in for a conversation, one has to wonder why it hasn't happened yet.
The veteran might be biding his time. Diggs knows how to prepare effectively for a new season, and he'll want to find the right fit at this relatively late stage of his playing career. The Commanders are intriguing for obvious reasons, but until they come calling, it's not a viable option.
Ideally, the Commanders need to get someone in quickly. That will give them enough time to develop chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Brandon Aiyuk might come in a lot later when he is eventually released by the San Francisco 49ers, but his relationship with Washington's franchise player is renowned.
Peters and the coaching staff clearly want to review the options available before deciding on further measures.
There are several with the scope to break out, but nobody behind McLaurin is a sure thing by any stretch. While Diggs may not be a WR1 in Washington, he'd be a nice complementary piece who can get open consistently. And if rookie third-rounder Antonio Williams hits the ground running, this has the makings of a productive trio.
Money isn't a problem. The Commanders have $43.7 million in available salary-cap space, third-highest in the league. Diggs is projected to get a two-year, $27.64 million contract, equating to $13.82 million per season. Not exactly chump change, but certainly manageable for Washington.
It's radio silence right now. That might change, and it might not. But Diggs is not going to wait around forever for the phone to ring.
Watch this space…
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