Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said after the team chose running back Seth McGowan in the 2026 NFL draft that the GM believes in giving second chances. He can further prove that if the team signs free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
That is the idea that Ben Arthur of FOX Sports proposes, as he correctly points out that Indy is thin at the position after Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. Diggs would be the WR2 that the Colts absolutely need. Should Downs or Pierce get hurt, not a lot of high-end talent is on the roster to back them up.
"Diggs had a comeback season last year with the New England Patriots, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards," Arthur writes. "Yes, he's 32 and has a lot of wear and tear, but he didn't miss a game in 2025 and played in his first Super Bowl."
FOX Sports analyst links Stefon Diggs to the Indianapolis Colts
It should also be noted that Diggs was recently found not guilty of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery related to an alleged situation with his former live-in personal chef. The incident was claimed to have happened in December of last year. Had Diggs been found guilty, his career would have likely come to a close.
What his market is currently is unknown, of course. Many teams might have been waiting to see how the court case played out. According to Spotrac, the wide receiver's market value is projected to be $13.8 million a season over the next two years. That seems steep for a player who has a recent injury history and is close to turning 33 years old.
The Indianapolis Colts shouldn't offer that amount of money for the wide receiver. Indy has that cash after trading wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, a player that Diggs would be a replacement for, as well as re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones and wideout Alec Pierce.
But if Chris Ballard, who needs to make the playoffs this season or will likely lose his employment with the team, spends nearly $14 million on a player, the guy needs to be an edge rusher, not Stefon Diggs. The receiver could be wanting to prove himself all over again after his recent accusations.
Ballard told the media after Indy chose running back McGowan in the seventh round, and after McGowan had been charged with felony counts of robbery (which were later reduced), "How long do you keep punishing (McGowan for his crime)?... He's had a good track record. (I) feel good about who he is as a...You learn your lesson, you make a mistake, pay the price for it, and you move on."
In the case of Stefon Diggs, he wasn't found guilty of anything, but the public view might be different than what the courts decided. As a player, he did produce 85 catches for 1,013 yards with the Patriots in 2025, so he's still a good player. He just doesn't play the position that the Colts should give someone $14 million a season to join the team.
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