Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs was found not guilty of strangulation and assault and battery charges by a Massachusetts jury on May 5.
Mitchell Schuster, one of the attorneys representing Diggs, is hopeful that the 32-year-old’s exoneration will allow him to earn an NFL opportunity.
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“Our hope is that this is now behind him, that he will get signed by a team,” Schuster told reporters.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Dru Phillips #22 of the New York Giants defends the pass attempt to Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 1, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the second quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
NFL Player Stefon Diggs (R) and rapper Cardi B (L) celebrate after Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025 in New York City.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a 21-14 victory against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills catches a touchdown pass as Jason McCourty #30 of the New England Patriots defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills catches an eleven-yard pass over Stephon Gilmore #9 of the Carolina Panthers and runs in for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills caches a touchdown pass over Jonathan Jones #31 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the 12th annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Lanvin Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2023 in Paris, France.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023 in New York City.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2023 in Paris, France.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Kering Foundation Second Annual Caring For Women Dinner at The Pool on September 12, 2023 in New York City.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Marcus Epps #1 of the Las Vegas Raiders tackles Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills runs with a reception for a touchdown during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates his touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills takes a moment ahead of a game against the New York Giants at Highmark Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
L’Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks up a pass intended for Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills during the first half of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Zack Bia and Stefon Diggs attend the GQ Sports Super Bowl Party 2024 at Park MGM Las Vegas on February 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Ferragamo Fall Winter 2024 fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 on February 24, 2024 in Milan, Italy.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2024 in Paris, France.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs and Guest are seen front row at the Gucci Men’s Spring Summer 2025 Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 at Triennale di Milano on June 17, 2024 in Milan, Italy.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Jacquemus Menswear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 26, 2025 in Paris, France.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
NFL Player Stefon Diggs and rapper Cardi B sits court-side during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Drake Maye #10, Treveyon Henderson #32, and Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots pray with the New Orleans Saints following the NFL 2025 game at Caesars Superdome on October 12, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown past Mike Hughes #21 of the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots reacts after a first down reception against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Did the Patriots release Stefon Diggs?
Diggs has been a free agent since being released by the Patriots on March 11. The four-time Pro Bowler remained unsigned despite posting his seventh 1,000-yard season and helping New England get to Super Bowl 60.
That’s why Schuster lamented that the allegations against Diggs “impacted him both personally and professionally” and opined they played a big part in the veteran receiver’s inability to land an NFL contract.
“I just think teams have been reluctant to sign him with these false charges hanging over his head,” Schuster said. “Now that he’s been exonerated and his truth has been heard and his position – that this never occurred and he’s been falsely accused – he’s been vindicated. I believe that a team will reach out and sign him imminently. And they’ll be lucky to get him.”
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While Schuster noted he and Diggs’ legal team were “pleased and happy” the receiver will be seeking to continue his NFL career, the attorney did not give a timetable for Diggs to reach an agreement with an NFL team.
He did, however, hint that a deal might not be too far off when asked what would be next for Diggs.
“OTAs,” Schuster snappily responded before ending his news conference.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stefon Diggs trial fallout: Attorney addresses WR’s NFL future after verdict
