FIRE DRILL: The Patriots Have A WR1

Holy shit. Two weeks ago I wrote about how the Patriots had started off free agency guns blazing, throwing bills like Kraft used to at the massage parlor. But there was one big piece missing, a critical piece in the growth and development of a young rising QB, and the catalyst to an offense that can put together more than two promising drives a game. We needed a weapon.

And in the eleventh hour, as most big name WRs were taken off the free agency big board, in comes WR1 Stefon Diggs.

Let's. Go.

Diggs may not be the first team all-pro he once was wrecking havoc across the league with Josh Allen in Buffalo, but he’s been one of the best/most consistent WRs in football over the last 6-7 years. And don't think for a second he's no longer WR1-worthy, cause those accolades are inclusive of last year. According to the stat nerds at ESPN, he was one of the best WRs in the league at getting open through the first eight weeks of last season before his injury, and ranked 7th in the league in receptions.

He'll be the best player the WR room in New England has seen in a half decade. He'll be able to teach the young guys (Ja’Lynn Polk) how to turn their talk into walk, be the man again, and provide Drake a security blanket of knowing he'll get open and actually catch the ball when thrown his way.

He was touted by CJ Stroud and other Texans as a great teammate, and the change of scenery and being demoted from "the guy" may have been the slice of humble pie he needed to stop being the supposed locker room cancer some people had claimed him to be.

He's coming off an ACL tear, and is on the wrong side of 30, so there's reasons to be skeptical. But this was a no brainer move for the Pats. It's not confirmed, but this is more than likely a one year deal with opt outs given the low guaranteed money. Don't get fooled by the headline numbers. But who really gives a shit about the money.

The Patriots had it and spent it. They got the WR1 their QB was desperately seeking and fans were begging for. The reward wildly outweighs the risk.

I can't shower this front office with enough flowers. Everything I and Patriots fans cautiously hoped for coming into free agency, everything we wanted/needed to do and didn't last year, has so far been done. We had money to blow and like Birdman we blew that shit. We revamped the defense, got some OL help, and topped it off with the cherry that is Stefon Diggs. And we still have the fourth pick and four in the first three rounds!

It’s still so early, but so far Mike Vrabel can do no wrong. Like I've said, I believe everything he touches will turn to gold. Every expectation I've had has been met, and the future is becoming brighter each and every day.

I can't believe I'm this bought into this team already. But I'm thinking playoffs, if not this year next. I'm way too ahead of myself.