Kurt Warner likes Stefon Diggs. As a former quarterback, he appreciates what the star receiver brings to the table offensively.

But the Hall of Famer also knows Diggs can be a handful for a young quarterback. Or any quarterback.

Diggs, who signed a lucrative free agent deal with the Patriots last week, wants the ball. He demands it, whether he’s open or not.

In some ways, that competitiveness is a positive trait. It can also be taken as a negative.

Diggs, who signed a lucrative free agent deal with the Patriots last week, wants the ball. He demands it, whether he’s open or not.

In some ways, that competitiveness is a positive trait. It can also be taken as a negative.

Josh Allen thrived with Diggs in Buffalo. When it became too much, the Bills dealt him to the Houston Texans prior to last season.

Members of the Texans – with quarterback C.J. Stroud leading the charge – dispute the diva label. They say Diggs, who was a model teammate in Houston, got a bad rap.

They saw a productive, uber-competitive receiver who accepted his role as the No. 2 behind Nico Collins. He didn’t cause any kind of stir.

He was voted a captain, and helped mentor the younger receivers on the Texans.

Noted Texans scribe John McClain wrote last year that Diggs was determined to prove people wrong. He wanted to shake the diva label.

Listening to the veteran wideout’s introductory press conference with the Patriots on Friday, it appears Diggs is on a similar path.

“My maturation process comes from more experience, both good and bad … I’ve done a lot of inner work up to this point,” he said. “I feel like I’m in a great space. And I’m trying to put that to use.”

Diggs tore his ACL two months into the season last year, and that was the span of his stint in Houston. It was also the extent of his personal transformation.

Now in New England, coming off an injury, having been paid handsomely (3 years, $69 million, $26 million guaranteed) by the Patriots, Diggs isn’t likely to rock the boat.

“I’m not saying Stefon is going to be a problem from that standpoint. I’ve always enjoyed him. But we’ve seen some of that in his competitiveness,” Warner said, referring to Diggs openly displaying his displeasure on the sidelines if the quarterback doesn’t feed him the ball. “It’s a harder thing to do for a young guy, who is kind of coming into his own, and hasn’t quite established himself to make sure you can deal with a personality like that.”

Warner believes Maye needs to assert himself and take ownership of the offense. He also needs to have success with the rest of the receivers. That will be key for the Patriots young signal-caller.

“As many great receivers as I’ve been around that wanted the ball on every snap, it was much easier to manage those things because they were seeing others having success,” Warner said. “If you’re Drake, you’ve got to have success. The more success you have, the easier it is for the Diggs’ ego-type stars to say it’s all about the team.”

With Diggs now in the fold, the offense should be better. It should have more success once he’s out on the field.

That’s assuming Diggs is a reasonable facsimile of himself coming off the ACL surgery he underwent in November.

On Friday, the receiver told reporters he was ahead of schedule. His hope was to get back to where he was physically last year prior to suffering the injury.

If that’s the case, Warner believes Maye will be getting someone he can depend on in those vital got-to-have-it moments of the game.

“When he’s healthy and going, Stefon Diggs is a great route-runner that can create great separation. You feel like he can win in every situation with 1-on-1s. That is so important,” Warner said. “I think it’s going to be fascinating to watch. When he’s healthy, he’s really, really good, and he’s going to dramatically improve that receiving corps.”

That’s certainly the hope of Mike Vrabel & Co.

Building an on-field rapport with Maye, however, could prove a challenge.

Even with Diggs doing well, there’s no timetable for how soon he’ll be back on the field. With that uncertainty, it’s not easy for a quarterback and receiver to develop chemistry from the classroom.

“Feeling the body language of a receiver, seeing when they break down, or when they slow down, what their nuances are when they run routes, that’s important,” Warner said. “Mental reps never gives you that. When I’m going over to Larry Fitzgerald, I want to know how he does things, where he moves, how he moves and what I’m looking for … those are the keys.”

While Diggs should catch his fair share of passes when he is ready to play, his presence will allow for others to shine.

Warner pointed out when offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels calls for a 3-by-1 formation, with three receivers on one side, and one on the opposite side, Diggs will be the lone wideout on backside.

If the opposing team wants to single cover-him, they’ll do so at their own peril. If they roll the coverage to Diggs’ side, doubling him, it’ll be easier for the other three to get open.

“That, to me, is where a young guy gets the greatest benefit. It’s just having one of those guys. It just makes the game simpler,” Warner said. “You’re going to get more opportunities where it’s just drop back and play catch, so to speak. Because you have a guy who you feel can win back there.

“I didn’t feel like the Patriots had that last year. Having that guy who could be that go-to-guy for Drake where he could have some easy reads, some easy plays … (Having Diggs) could make it easier on the other guys who aren’t difference-makers and need to be more complementary pieces. It allows them better opportunities to win.”

Ultimately, that’s the point of the Diggs signing for the Patriots. It’s finally having a dependable superstar receiver who will make plays all over the field for Maye, and also open up avenues for the other receivers to win their matchups.