Tag: Houston Texans Trade

Texans miss out on potential Stefon Diggs replacement

The Houston Texans miss out on a potential Stefon Diggs replacement after the Baltimore Ravens traded for Diontae Johnson.

While the Houston Texans could be in line to target a receiver via trade after losing Stefon Diggs, Diontae Johnson won’t be an option.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring the Carolina Panthers receiver in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Carolina will also send Baltimore a 2025 sixth-round pick.

According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Panthers are also paying down some of his salary, meaning that Baltimore will owe Johnson roughly $625K for the rest of the year.

Johnson is on the move for the second this season. Carolina acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers in hopes of elevating its receiving corps under new head coach Dave Canales this offseason.

In seven games with the NFC South franchise, Johnson totaled 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns.

He is now the fourth receiver traded to an AFC team this month, joining former Raiders star Davante Adams (New York Jets), Tennessee Titans All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins (Kansas City Chiefs) and Browns Pro Bowler Amari Cooper (Buffalo Bills).

Diggs, who joined the Texans via trade this offseason from Buffalo, suffered a torn ACL in Week 8’s win over the Indianapolis Colts and will miss the remainder of the season. The four-time Pro Bowler was also in a contract year and will become a free agent this offseason.

“You can’t really — you try to think positively about it, but it’s not a bunch of positive thoughts,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “I just feel bad for him. I’m praying for him.”

Houston’s loss comes on short notice as the Texans take on the New York Jets this Thursday. Top target Nico Collins remains on the injured reserve, but he is expected back for Week 10’s showdown against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football.

With Collins out, Diggs had been Stroud’s go-to target. In eight games, he ranked seventh in the NFL in catches (47)  and was second on the Texans in yards (496). Diggs also was tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with three.

“Love everything about Stef and everything he brought to our team,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Praying for him to get back strong.”

How the Texans look without Diggs could factor into Houston targeting a receiver before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5. Tank Dell, John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods headline a receiver room that’ needs someone to step up.

Dell should be the favorite to take over as the new No. 1 for Week 9, especially given his relationship with Stroud. So far, the second-year target has struggled to duplicate his rookie success as the No. 3 option.

Through seven games, Dell has totaled 229 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including one in Sunday’s win during the second quarter.

Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Texans trade for Bills star WR Stefon Diggs

The Texans made a blockbuster trade to acquire Bills WR Stefon Diggs.

The Houston Texans have found their additional wide receiver.

After trying and failing to trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for wide receiver Keenan Allen, general manager Nick Caserio struck a deal with the Buffalo Bills to bring Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.

It’s the latest in a series of moves this offseason that have seen the Texans try to take a leap from playoff contender to Super Bowl contender.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans sent a 2024 second-round pick (from the Minnesota Vikings) to the Bills. Meanwhile, Houston also receives a 2024 sixth-round selection and 2024 fifth-round pick in the deal.

The Bills acquired Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 to help aid in the development of quarterback Josh Allen. He was first-team All-Pro in 2020 and second-team All-Pro in 2022. He also made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons as Allen rose to stardom. But he was openly disgruntled after a relatively disappointing 2023 season.

Diggs, who has 9,995 career receiving yards and 67 touchdowns, will join a loaded receiver group that includes 2023 breakout players Nico Collins and Tank Dell in addition to veteran tight end Dalton Schultz. This may be considered the NFL’s most lethal wide receiver group entering the season and should provide ample support for quarterback C.J. Stroud, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Alongside returning offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and new running back Joe Mixon, expectations will be sky-high for Houston’s star-studded offense.

GM Nick Caserio won’t rule out Texans being buyers at trade deadline

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio won’t rule out the possibility of the team acquiring a player before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

The Houston Texans’ 3-3 record is largely attributed to its homegrown talent manifesting on the gridiron. Any holes that exist can be filled with injured players returning or with more resources in the offseason.

Nevertheless general manager Nick Caserio won’t rule out the possibility of the Texans acquiring a player ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

“We’re going to look at our team, figure out is there an opportunity to add a player that we think can help us,” Caserio said Oct. 17. “If there is, great; we’ll pursue it. If there’s not, then we won’t. Like, we feel comfortable with the players that are in the building, that are on the team.”

Even seven weeks into the regular season, the Texans don’t simply look at their active roster, but their football personnel as a whole, including the practice squad.

” It’s really one through 70 or one through 69, however many players are in the building,” said Caserio. “So focus on those players, and if there’s somebody externally that we think can come in here and really have a defined role and have an impact, then we’ll certainly look into that. If there’s not, then we won’t.”

Moves aren’t made simply off draft picks. Houston has the 15th-most salary cap space in the NFL at a little over $7.7 million. The team would have to work in the incoming player’s contract, not only with the 2023 figures, but project them into the fluid 2024 cap situation.

Said Caserio: “There’s always a financial component to this, as well. There’s a certain cost associated with a contract that you take on. So how much are you paying for that player, what’s the cost, can you fit them under the cap. We have, I would say, a pretty good working budget for the duration of the year, so we can take on a certain level of contract, but if it’s more than that, then, okay, we cut half the team or have to do a bunch of cap manipulations, which you just push everything out to future years. It’s not a good way to run a team, not a good way to run a business.”

Taking the role of sellers at the deadline may have been an option in the past, but Houston still has an opportunity to make a positive statement in the last 11 games.

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