Tag: AJ Klein

Players, media react to Bills’ trade deal for Stefon Diggs

The Bills sent shockwaves across western New York and the NFL on Monday evening. The Bills made three moves, in total. 

The Bills sent shockwaves across western New York and the NFL on Monday evening. The Bills made three moves, in total.

Buffalo agreed to terms with linebacker AJ Klein and defensive end Mario Addison, but the night was highlighted by their trade for Stefon Diggs.

Diggs is one of the NFL’s best receivers and has wanted the Vikings to move him for some time. Anytime a headline-grabbing wideout gets his wish, it’s always big news, and many had their takes on it.

Here’s how some Bills players and national media (for better or worse) reacted to the trade deal that was on Monday:

QB Josh Allen

Adam Schefter, ESPN

LS Reid Ferguson

Sports Illustrated

OL Cody Ford

QB Matt Barkley

Chris Simms, NBC Sports

OL Dion Dawkins

Skip Bayless, FOX Sports

Dan Orlovsky, ESPN

Adam Schein, CBS Sports

Ian Rapoport, NFL Network

Warren Sharp, Sharp Football

Jason McIntyre, FOX Sports

Ian Kenyon, Bleacher Report

Dan “Big Cat” Katz, Barstool Sports

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Instant analysis: Bills strike trade deal for WR Stefon Diggs

Sandwiched into those two updates was a blockbuster trade as the Bills landed wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings. 

The Bills made their fans wait, but they got on the board in a big, big way on Monday evening.

Buffalo agreed to terms with linebacker AJ Klein and defensive end Mario Addison. Sandwiched into those two updates was a blockbuster trade as the Bills landed wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings.

The trade cost the Bills a hefty sum, including a first-round pick. While the 2020 NFL Draft will be a bit less exciting now, one thing is certainly clear.

The Bills are “all in” now.

Diggs isn’t a rookie, but Buffalo still landed a younger prospect. He’s also not the big-bodied wonder some hoped for. However, the 26-year-old has five years under his belt, but now the Bills don’t have to hope they select a rookie that pans out, now they have a proven and legit No. 1 receiver. Diggs shown that since entering the league.

Even as a rookie, Diggs put up numbers with the Vikings that are better than the ones the team has gotten out of their wideout room in recent memory, especially in a No. 2 role. In his first season, Diggs had 52 catches for 720 yards and four touchdowns. He’s only grown from there.

Diggs has put together back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons the last two years. His best year was 2018, when he caught 102 total passes. Overall in his career, Diggs has caught 365 catches for 4,623 yards and 30 touchdowns in 70 games played.

The closest thing the Bills have had to that in recent memory was Sammy Watkins. But the big key here isn’t just one player. The Bills are finally building a full offense.

Diggs joins the likes of Cole Beasley and John Brown. That duo put up some career-best numbers with quarterback Josh Allen in 2019 themselves. Beasley had a career-high six touchdowns, while Brown himself also passed the 1,000-yard receiving mark (1,060).

This trio, along with tight end reinforcement led by Dawson Knox, injects a belief into the team and their fan base which they’ve lacked for years. Sure, Buffalo’s put up a good defense under head coach Sean McDermott, but the gap between the offense and defense is getting closer.

But of course, general manager Brandon Beane only wants the offense to catch up and not have the defense regress. Not only are Addison and Klein slated to fill holes, could they improve Buffalo’s already stout defense? And don’t forget Josh Norman either, a former All-Pro that’s hopeful he can return to the form in McDermott.

So that’s right, the Bills are absolutely all in… and all eyes on Allen now.

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Report: Bills, LB AJ Klein agree to terms

Buffalo Bills signed linebacker AJ Klein to a contract.

The Buffalo Bills have agreed to terms with linebacker AJ Klein on Monday. Klein won’t officially be signed until Wednesday when the NFL’s league year opens at 4 p.m.

Klein has previous played for the Saints and Panthers.

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