Stefon Diggs Praises Terry McLaurin, Commanders Offense After First Practice
Stefon Diggs took the field for the Washington Commanders for the first time this week, and he left practice with plenty to say about his new offense. The four-time Pro Bowl receiver signed with Washington on a one-year deal worth up to $12 million, according to ESPN, and the move gives Terry McLaurin a proven running mate after years of thin depth at wide receiver.
The Commanders spent the offseason connected to receiver help in one form or another. Speculation ran through the spring and summer, and ClutchPoints tracked the team’s pursuit of a true No. 2 option opposite McLaurin for months before Diggs became the answer. Washington also drew attention as a possible landing spot for Brandon Aiyuk, but that never materialized into a trade, and ClutchPoints noted Diggs immediately fills the hole the Commanders had at wide receiver, provided he stays healthy.
Diggs didn’t waste time settling in. After his first practice, he talked about the caliber of players around him and what that could mean for opposing defenses this fall.
“It’s good being around other players that can ball,” Diggs said. “It’s going to be hard to double somebody in this offense. You’ve got guys that can make plays and guys that can make plays out of the backfield. You’ve got a mobile quarterback. The biggest thing for me is just my commitment to the game. I play outside, I play inside, a little bit of the backfield if they let me.”
That versatility is nothing new for Diggs. He’s lined up all over the formation throughout his career, and it was a big part of why he thrived last season in New England. He caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns for the Patriots and helped push the team to the Super Bowl before New England released him in a cost-saving move at the start of the new league year.
Diggs also singled out McLaurin specifically, and the admiration sounded genuine. According to SB Nation’s Scott Bair, Diggs opened up about what he’s seen from Washington’s longtime No. 1 receiver.
“I’ve seen ‘Scary Terry’ for a long time. He’s one hell of a playmaker. You see him on the highlights, popping up on the screen on ESPN,” Diggs said, via SB Nation’s Scott Bair. “I’m inspired by and I admire his game from an intensity standpoint and the passion he plays with. It’s similar to myself. We talked about that a little when I got here. I’m a fan of his game.”
The two receivers pairing up gives new offensive coordinator David Blough a legitimate 1-2 punch to build around, along with a mobile quarterback in Jayden Daniels who can extend plays. Defenses that spent recent seasons keying almost entirely on McLaurin now have to account for a second receiver capable of winning from anywhere on the field. That’s the kind of matchup problem evident in Diggs’ own comments about how hard it will be to double-team a single player in this offense.
Diggs’ path to Washington also has a homecoming element. He’s a Maryland native who played collegiately at the University of Maryland, and reporting from ESPN indicated the sides had mutual interest for some time before the deal came together.
With training camp underway and a roster now more complete at receiver, the Commanders have addressed one of their clearest offseason needs. Whether the pairing translates into wins will start to show once padded practices and preseason work ramp up, but early signs from Diggs suggest he’s already comfortable in his new room.
