New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs revealed he was “close” to choosing the Broncos in free agency before he ultimately landed in New England, and he credited a key relationship on Sean Payton’s staff for making Denver a real option.
Diggs made the comments in a Super Bowl-week interview with KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM, discussing how his offseason decision came together and why the Broncos were legitimately in the mix.
Stefon Diggs Says Broncos Were “Close” Before He Picked Patriots
Asked how close he came to picking Denver, Diggs said it “was close,” explaining that one of the biggest factors was his relationship with a coach on Payton’s staff who previously worked with him in Buffalo.
Diggs said the staffer was with the Buffalo Bills and “taught me the offense” during his time there, adding that the coach “spent a lot of time with me” in the past.
He also indicated he approached the process with a wide-angle view of situation and timing, pointing to how quickly circumstances can change with injuries or even contract language.
That’s what makes his comments notable for Broncos fans: this wasn’t a casual “they called” situation. Diggs framed Denver as a real finalist in his decision.
Why Sean Payton Got Mentioned
Diggs didn’t just point to a personal relationship; he also brought up Payton’s reputation.
He told KOA he has “a lot of respect” for Payton as a play caller and described Denver as having a “good situation” and a “great organization.”
That staff angle also lands at an interesting moment for Denver. The Broncos recently promoted Davis Webb to offensive coordinator after moving on from Joe Lombardi. Webb is a young coach with recent quarterback-development buzz in Denver, and, notably, he previously spent time with Buffalo earlier in his coaching path (Diggs did not name the coach in the KOA excerpt, so the connection is context, not confirmation).
What It Means for the Broncos After This Patriots Run
Diggs is speaking at the Super Bowl as a Patriot because New England just ended Denver’s season in the AFC Championship, a gritty 10-7 Patriots win in snowy conditions.
In that game, Drake Maye threw for 86 yards but ran for 65 and scored the Patriots’ only touchdown on a 6-yard keeper, while Denver played without an injured Bo Nix and leaned on a defensive slugfest.
So from a Broncos perspective, Diggs’ “close” admission does two things:
- It reinforces the idea Denver was (and can be) in the room for elite veteran talent when the fit is right.
- It adds fuel to the offseason skill-position conversation, because the Broncos were apparently a real threat to land a true No. 1 receiver, and they were one decision away from changing their entire offensive picture.
Diggs ultimately chose New England on a three-year deal worth a base value of $63.5 million, with $16.6 million fully guaranteed and additional performance incentives, according to Over the Cap.
Now, as the Patriots prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, Diggs’ comments are a reminder that Denver’s offseason swing was real, even if it didn’t end with a signature.
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