The Indianapolis Colts are on the bye in Week 11, and while they entered it in first place in the AFC, they have already lost their position after one game. The New England Patriots became the first nine-win team in the NFL on Thursday night, defeating the New York Jets, and taking sole possession of first place in the AFC as a result.
Broncos Moved on Explosive $140 Million Pro Bowl Playmaker
Posted November 14, 2025
The Denver Broncos’ quest to build out their roster has not ended, but one of the moves they did not make has come back to light. According to a new report, the Broncos had designs on signing veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs this past offseason.
Diggs ultimately signed with the New England Patriots, who were playing the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football” when the news dropped.
A lot of time has passed since then, but it paints a clear picture of the Broncos’ plans.
Broncos Were Finalists for Stefon Diggs
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport joined the pregame show before the Patriots’ game and detailed what went into New England signing Diggs, including beating out the Broncos for the four-time Pro Bowler and 2020 First Team All-Pro’s services.
Diggs, the No. 146 overall pick of the 2015 draft who has earned over $140 million in his career, signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with the Patriots.
However, fate may have brought Diggs to New England and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
“Signing Stefon Diggs was the end of a decades-long quest for Mike Vrabel,” Rapoport reported on “TNF Tonight” on November 13. “Vrabel recruited Diggs out of high school, when he was an assistant at Ohio State. Didn’t get him, was mad about it. When Diggs became available this spring, his agent sent video to the Patriots, just three months after the ACL tear. He was running, cutting. Good sign. Ahead of schedule. It came down to the Broncos or Patriots. Five months from passing a physical, the Patriots signed up. A big-time leap of faith.”
Sentimentality and outcome aside, the Broncos had financial reasons to avoid making the kind of investment into Diggs that the Patriots did. It largely has to do with their financial outlook and how the Patriots structured Diggs’ deal.
Diggs entered Thursday’s contest with 50 receptions for 554 yards and 3 touchdowns, which would have ranked first, second, and third, respectively, on the Broncos.
He finished the contest, a 27-14 Patriots win, with a 9-105-0 line.
Broncos Avoided Risky Investment
Diggs, 31, has an $8.7 million cap hit this season, which the Broncos – who Over The Cap says have $4.6 million in space – could have worked to make room for. However, his cap hit jumps to $26.5 million in 2026 and 2027.
Again, the Broncos could have squeezed those dollar amounts in with projections of $47.6 million in space in 2026 and $68.6 million in 2027.
However, they signed Courtland Sutton to a four-year, $92 million extension this past summer.
That is a lot of capital to invest into the wide receiver position, even with Bo Nix on a cost-controlled rookie-scale contract. Instead, the Broncos will pay a combined $38 million for the trio of Evan Engram at tight end and defensive players Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga.
Diggs has missed more than two games in a single season three times in his career, and just once (2024) since the 2016 season.
The Broncos have leaned on their young receivers, Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin.
They were also linked to wide receivers before the trade deadline, which could underscore the veracity of Rapoport’s report.
AFC Playoff Picture: Colts lose top spot on their bye week
The Colts didn’t play this weekend, but they have already moved down the AFC standings.
The Denver Broncos currently share an 8-2 record with Indianapolis. They play the Chiefs this weekend in a game with huge AFC playoff implications.
The Patriots’ bye isn’t until Week 14 and between now and then they play two of the worst teams in the NFL in the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants. Meanwhile the Colts play the Kansas City Chiefs next week coming off the bye.
AFC standings during Week 11
1. New England Patriots (9-2)
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-2, win over DEN)
3. Denver Broncos (8-2, loss to IND)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
6. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4, win over KC)
8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4, loss to JAX)
9. Houston Texans (4-5, win over BAL)
10. Baltimore Ravens (4-5, loss to HOU)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)
12. Miami Dolphins (3-7)
13. New York Jets (2-7)
14. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
15. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-8)
AFC South standings after Week 10
The Jaguars face the Chargers this week in another big AFC contest while the Texans and Titans play each other Sunday.
1. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
3. Houston Texans (4-5)
4. Tennessee Titans (1-8)
