Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs began his criminal trial on Monday, throwing his NFL future into uncertainty.
Diggs had been in negotiations on a settlement with a former personal chef who accused him of assaulting her in a dispute over pay. The former Bills receiver maintained his innocence and began his criminal trial near Boston on Monday.
Diggs remains unsigned after being released by the Patriots, with some insiders speculating that the uncertainty of his trial and potential NFL suspension leaves him with a murky future.
Diggs could face punishment from the NFL, which has wide latitude to punish players accused of assault or other crimes, even if they are not convicted. Former Bills edge rusher Von Miller was suspended for four games in the 2024 season after a longtime partner accused him of assaulting her, charges that ultimately did not proceed through court.
Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay named Diggs as the No. 7 free agent remaining on the open market, noting that he had a strong showing with the Patriots last season.
“Diggs’ bounce-back showing earned him some Comeback Player of the Year votes, and more importantly for his future outlook, showed potential employers that he can still be a WR1 in the league,” Kay wrote. “The 32-year-old was a key piece for a Pats squad that made it all the way to the Super Bowl and he could have a similar impact for another team in 2026.”
But Kay added that the pending criminal case could give NFL teams pause.
“Teams will also factor in his off-field situation,” Kay wrote. “According to NBC Boston, Diggs had a court date scheduled in early May related to an alleged incident involving his former private chef, and the league typically reviews such cases under its personal conduct policy.”
Diggs has been named as a top candidate for several teams to sign, including Super Bowl contender Los Angeles Rams, but he has not had any known visits or workouts since being released by the Patriots in the weeks after the Super Bowl.
As NBC Boston reported, the jury was seated on Monday and the trial began with the accuser on the stand. The accuser told the jury that she first met Diggs through an Instagram message in December 2022, near the end of his third season with the Bills, and they developed a romantic relationship that led to her becoming his personal chef.
Diggs and his legal team contended that the allegation was false, spurred when the accuser was not included in a trip that the NFL star took.
“Diggs’ attorney said the assault did not happen and that the state does not have physical evidence to support their claim,” the report noted. “Attorney Andrew Kettlewell said on December 2, friends and others were arriving to his house ahead of a trip to Miami for vacation. Kettlewell said the chef was upset she was not included on the trip.”
Diggs’ trial is expected to conclude within a week.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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