Veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs' first choice was always a homecoming to the Washington Commanders once he was released by the New England Patriots. And the contract he eventually accepted to make his dream a reality only cements this claim.
The Commanders bided their time, keeping in touch with Diggs throughout the offseason before making their move. Reports suggested it was a one-year deal that could be worth up to $12 million initially. But now that the full details have been filed, the agreement looks even more team-friendly.
According to Spotrac, Diggs signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Commanders. There was a $2 million signing bonus, with $5.15 million in base salary. The former Maryland standout's active-per-game roster bonus stands at $850,000.
Commanders got a potential steal with Stefon Diggs homecoming
Considering what Diggs could potentially bring to the Commanders, this has the makings of an absolute steal when it's all said and done.
Playing closer to home with his career winding down clearly meant a lot to Diggs. With $166.87 million in career NFL earnings before endorsements, taking a little less to seal his move to Washington was a concession he was willing to make.
And for someone who likes value for money on any deal involving an aging veteran, general manager Adam Peters played his hand perfectly.
Given how long it took for the Commanders and second-team All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin to end their contract standoff last year — and only when it worked in the club's favor — paying another receiver over 30 may not have been looked upon favorably by Peters. Thankfully, Diggs saw the situation for what it was and made the necessary sacrifices.
And it's a win-win for all parties.
Stefon Diggs could be among Commanders' biggest offseason bargains with a strong season
Now, everyone can focus on the main thing. That involves getting Diggs up to speed quickly enough to become a major factor within new offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme when the regular season begins, and he's off to an imposing start.
The four-time Pro Bowler looks sharp. His elite route-running is as advertised, and Diggs has already developed an encouraging connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Any lingering doubts were firmly put in the rearview mirror after the wideout's superb display during joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. Diggs was sensational, and he already looks in midseason form.
Diggs was never going to get top-tier money. But one would think he could have gotten a lot more from somewhere else the closer we got to the season.
However, the homecoming allure and belief in Washington's ambitious project under Peters and head coach Dan Quinn were enough to tip the scales.
If it doesn't work out, it didn't cost the Commanders much to find out for sure. But if everything goes as expected, this could eventually become one of the offseason's biggest bargains.
In the end, this confirms that Diggs' free-agent decision was about much more than financial benefit.
It was about being home.
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