Tag: Stefon Diggs Football

Texans WR Stefon Diggs lands in ESPN’s top 50 NFL free agents for 2025 offseason

Stefon Diggs will have a market this offseason if he leaves the Houston Texans in free agency.

Stefon Diggs could be back in Houston for the 2025 season, but he’ll have interest in the open market from other contending rosters.

Multiple Texans players have voiced their opinions on a reunion with the four-time Pro Bowl receiver, including second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, who said the duo’s chemistry was “just hitting” before Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8.

While Diggs could return to Houston for Round 2 and a chance to better his market in 2026, ESPN views him as one of the top free agents despite injury. In the latest from Jeremy Fowler, the two-time All-Pro appeared at No. 26 on the top 50 free agent list heading into the 2025 offseason.

“An ACL injury limited Diggs to eight games this season, which is why he’s lower on this list,” Fowler wrote. “His play speed is also starting to slip. However, Diggs is a quality route runner who, once healthy and cleared to play next season, can create separation and produce after the catch. Diggs had 47 receptions for 496 yards this season, and he has 70 touchdowns over his 10 years in the NFL.”

Even though he’s entering his 11th season, Diggs has remained a constant weapon in the slot. He was on pace to notch his fifth 100-catch season in Bobby Slowik’s offense and was expected to be near the 1,000 receiving-yard marker with Nico Collins sidelined.

Diggs’ recovery time could determine his market. Right now, he’s expected to miss all of the offseason workouts but could be limited in training camp. If out for the start of the regular season, it’s not expected to be for long.

Entering the offseason, Diggs is the fourth-ranked receiver option entering free agency, trailing Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins (No. 1), Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin (No. 5) and Buffalo’s Amari Cooper (No. 18). All three are expected to sign multi-year deal while Diggs could ink a one-year prove-it contract to cash one last time in 2026.

If the Texans were to miss out on Diggs, other options available include New York Giants’ Darius Slayton (No. 36), Chicago’s Keenan Allen (No. 49) and Kansas City’s Hollywood Brown.

Houston also has been linked to several receivers in the upcoming NFL draft, including Missouri’s Luther Burden III, Texas’ Matthew Golden and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka.

Texans WR Stefon Diggs could be top target for AFC contender

The Houston Texans could see Stefon Diggs stick around the AFC next season with a new team.

As the Houston Texans try to keep wide receiver Stefon Diggs around the program for another season, 31 other teams could try to pry him away.

Despite a strong first season working with C.J. Stroud, Diggs has a market. He’s a reliable No. 2 threat in the passing game and could provide upside for a young receiver room looking for a long-term top weapon.

Pro Football Focus recently listed the top potential destinations for some of the best receivers on the market. For Diggs, PFF has the four-time Pro Bowler leaving NRGB Stadium and heading north to the New England Patriots with first-year coach Mike Vrabel.

“New England announced Josh McDaniels will lead Mike Vrabel’s offense, returning to the team with which he authored one of the most productive offenses in the NFL,” PFF’s Mason Cameron wrote. “McDaniels’ system requires savvy and polished route runners who are comfortable in a variety of route concepts and alignments, something Diggs embodies.”

New England has several young options for former No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye entering 2025, but none have the experience Diggs provides. Before suffering a torn ACL in Week 8, the 31-year-old was well on his way to securing a seventh-straight 1,000-yard campaign while totaling over 100 catches.

The Patriots need a legitimate No. 1 threat to double this win total. Diggs would fit the bill on paper, but at this stage in his career, chasing a title seems more fitting than inking a long-term lucrative contract.

Houston, which is coming off an 11-8 finish with an AFC South division title, is closing to winning a Super Bowl than New England. Players inside the locker room also hope Diggs returns to the huddle next season to pick up where he left off.

“I hope that he’s back and my locker mate again,” Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon said. “When it comes down to it, I’m sure he’s gonna do what’s best for him and same with the team. But selfishly, I think that all of us are gonna welcome Stef back with open arms.”

In eight games, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards and scored four total touchdowns.

NFL insider believes Texans could spark reunion with WR Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs might have options on the open market, but one NFL insider views Houston as his best location for the 2025 season.

With Tank Dell suffering a season-ending knee injury that will likely keep him out through most of the 2025 season, a reunion between Stefon Diggs and the Houston Texans isn’t off the table.

Houston, fresh off a divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, needs a stable No. 2 weapon opposite Nico Collins. Diggs, who thrived in the Texans’ offense for eight games before suffering a torn ACL against the Indianapolis Colts, could earn more in 2026 with a breakout season in a system he’s comfortable with.

There’s optimism a deal could get done before the start of free agency since Diggs is allowed to re-sign before hitting the open market.

During a segment on Bleacher Report Live, NFL insider James Palmer mentioned that from the outside perspective, most teams believe the four-time Pro Bowler is “leaning” toward staying with the AFC South franchise.

“He was extremely happy there. He was an unselfish teammate. He enjoyed the wide receiver room he was in,” Palmer said Thursday. “They really, really loved having him around. At this point in his career, he’s just looking to win a championship.”

Palmer also mentioned that the Texans never saw a “diva” persona around Diggs as previously stated during his time in Buffalo. When asked to do things for the organization, there was no hesitation from the two-time All-Pro.

Diggs, who caught 47 passes for 496 yards and four total touchdowns last season, also understands his role in the system as the high-quality No. 2 target behind Collins. The fourth-year veteran signed a three-year, $75.2 million deal this offseason, is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since the arrival of C.J. Stroud.

“He knows Nico Collins is the No. 1. He has unfinished business with C.J. Stroud and company,” Palmer said. “Stroud and he really felt like they were building a big chemistry. Stroud has been very vocal about bringing Diggs back.”

With the injury occurring in October, Diggs could be limited for most of the offseason workouts. If rehabilitation continues to improve, the 31-year-old could be cleared for the end of training camp and the start of the regular season.

Even if he misses time early, Diggs would be back within the first month to help Houston clinch its third straight AFC South title.

Palmer believes that while Diggs will have a say in the decision, everything falls in the hands of general manager Nick Caserio.

“[Caserio] has built a really good roster in Houston. He’s done a great job assembling young talent and in drafting, but he might listen to his quarterback in terms of bringing back Stefon Diggs,” Palmer said. “I think that’s the most likely thing that ends up happening.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Diggs is projected to sign a one-year deal this offseason worth $12-16 million.

What does Texans WR Stefon Diggs’ market look like heading into free agency

What’s Stefon Diggs’ market heading into the 2025 free agency? According to PFF, think the same deal as Odell Beckham Jr.

When the Houston Texans swung a deal for Buffalo Bills two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs last April, there was a sense he’d only be around the club for a season.

After the Texans restructured his salary and voided the final three years of his current deal, it was clear the Texans were all-in with Diggs for only 2024.

Have those plans changed with Tank Dell’s season-ending injury? Perhaps, but Diggs’ market might not be so high after a torn ACL limited him to eight games.

Houston needs a stable No. 2 receiver next to Nico Collins for the 2025 season. Multiple players, including Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and C.J. Stroud, hope that the four-time Pro Bowler will return to the lineup next fall on a one-year deal.

And a one-year deal seems to be the best option for Diggs since a resurgent 2025 season could earn him one more lucrative contract before retirement.

Pro Football Focus agrees, stating there’s a similar approach to free agency for the 31-year-old as another former All-Pro target coming off a torn ACL back in 2023.

“Diggs’ situation has shades of Odell Beckham Jr.’s free agency period in 2023, when he tore his ACL in the Super Bowl in 2021 and did not play in 2022 before signing a one-year, $15 million fully guaranteed contract,” Pro Football Focus wrote.

PFF believes Diggs should command about $16 million on the market. The Texans, who enter free agency with just over $10 million in cap space, should be able to match that deal after freeing up more cap after roster cuts and restructures.

There’s a sense that Diggs’ best season could be in Houston with Stroud. The duo were starting to build a rapport in the passing game leading up to Week 8 and were close off the field.

“I would love to have Stef back,” Stroud said Monday. “And man, I think we were just getting started. Like you see he was having so much fun and me and him.”

In eight games, Diggs’ 47 receptions were seventh among active receivers for the time. His 496 receiving yards ranked 10th while his four total touchdowns were 12th.

Unlike Beckham, Diggs proved last season he’s a sturdy No. 2 option for any team with a rising receiver. Given his four consecutive 100-plus catch seasons in Buffalo and six straight 1,000-yard campaigns, a team might be willing to spend over the market price to secure Diggs for the long haul.

Will the Texans be in play for that type of deal?

Texans players hope WR Stefon Diggs returns for 2025 season

C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and Joe Mixon all made it clear that they’d love for Stefon Diggs to be back in the huddle this season.

Joe Mixon said on Monday that he’d love to have Stefon Diggs as his locker mate in 2025 as the Houston Texans look to run it as AFC South champions.

He’s not the only member of the offense who would love to see the four-time Pro Bowl receiver back in the huddle.

“That’s my boy. I would love to have Stef back,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said on Monday. “He’s somebody that I would love to do this whole thing back with.”

Diggs, a two-time All-Pro receiver entering his 11th season, headlines the Texans’ free-agent class as their season comes to a close. After Houston traded a 2025 second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills to acquire Diggs, the franchise restructured his contract to a one-year deal.

Despite coming off a torn ACL, Diggs will have options. He posted four consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns as the No. 1 target for Josh Allen in Buffalo.

He was well on his way to the fifth 1K year before being sidelined for the remainder of the season in Week 8. Since then, Diggs has been training away from the facility, but he told NFL Network’s Good Morning Football in December that he’s “in a good spot” throughout his recovery.

Mixon, who inked a three-year extension after being traded from Cincinnati, said he believes Diggs is on the proper trajectory for a resurgent 2025 season.

“He’s definitely on track to becoming better and returning from his injury,” Mixon said. “I’m just excited that he’s back on his feet.”

Before the injury, Diggs had taken over as a leader in the locker room. He was well-liked by his teammates and offered advice to young players. He was even voted a team captain despite rumors of his attitude during his time in Buffalo.

Stroud said their connection was finally heating up before the ACL injury, mentioning how the duo was “starting to build a rapport.” In eight games, Diggs ranked seventh in receptions (47) and total 496 receiving yards for four total touchdowns.

“Dude is an All-Pro,” wide receiver Nico Collins said. “He’s a playmaker. Dude’s been making plays in this league for a while, and there’s no better person to get advice from.
Wishing him the best in recovery and I can’t wait to see him.”

Plans could change with Diggs’ future in Houston. Initially, it seemed as if the Texans were content with losing him this offseason, but with Tank Dell’s knee injury likely keeping him out for all of 2025, retaining the 31-year-old might be best for all parties.

Collins said that while his on-field presence was missed, it was his leadership in the locker room that was drastically noticed.

“That’s who Stef is, he’s a leader. Great, great leader in the receiver room. Great leader around the league,” Collins said. “Dude’s been around the league for years. He knows what it takes to win, and you want to have that leadership in the locker room. For him to go down, it hurt.”

Houston will target at least one playmaker this offseason. When asked if Diggs could be in line to return for Year 2, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans remained quiet on the reunion talks.

“I won’t get into specifics of each player, but me and [General Maanger] Nick [Caserio] will look at the roster and see where we can add guys to help our team win. Each player is different.”

The Texans will close out the 2024 season with an 11-8 record. They’ll select 25th in the upcoming NFL draft in April.

Joe Mixon hopes Texans bring back All-Pro WR for 2025 season

If Stefon Diggs wants to return to Houston, Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon will be the first to welcome him with open arms.

The Houston Texans have over two dozen free agents set to hit the market this offseason, but Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon hopes at least one is back in the huddle for the season-opener when the offense takes the field.

If two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs wants to return to NRG Stadium, Mixon said everyone would be elated.

“I hope that obviously he’s back and is my locker mate again,” Mixon said on Monday. “When it comes down to it, I’m sure he’s going do what’s best for him and same with the team. Selfishly, I think that all of us would welcome Stef back with open arms.”

After trading a 2025 second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills, Houston voided the final three years of Diggs’ current deal, making him a free agent following the 2024 season. After Nico Collins signed a three-year extension this offseason, it seemed like the four-time Pro Bowler would be a one-and-done in Houston.

Diggs’ market remains a mystery and the Texans enter the offseason. He was on pace for another 100-catch season as Houston’s No. 2 receiver before a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 sidelined him for the rest of the year.

At 31, Diggs could be looking for a short-term deal that offers him a chance to win a ring. That could be Houston, which returns multiple offensive roleplayers including Mixon, Collins, quarterback C.J. Stroud, tight end Dalton Schultz and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Mixon said he’s been recruiting Diggs since Day 1 in hopes of having him around to help the back-to-back AFC South champs get over the hump and into the Super Bowl conversation.

“We definitely were on the same page,” Mixon said. “Obviously my guy just got hurt. But it is a business, that’s the unfortunate part.”

Diggs, who finished with 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games, could command a decent market on a one-year deal. Earlier this season, he mentioned that he’d be open to coming back to Houston as he continues to attack his recovery.

That’ll be up to GM Nick Caserio, who could look to go younger and cheaper this offseason for a quality No. 2 threat. Plans could have changed after Tank Dell suffered a season-ending knee injury that likely will keep him out for most of the 2025 campaign due to recovery time.

Mixon believes Diggs is on track to becoming better entering 2025. Hopefully, that better ends in the end zone while wearing a Texans’ uniform.

“I’m excited that he’s back on his feet,” Mixon said. “I’m sure he’s probably going to want to come back here. He’s got unfinished business. Hopefully, he would take that into consideration.”

The Texans have roughly $10.6 million in cap space entering the offseason, though that number could fluctuate after roster cuts and contract reworks.

Only one Texans player made PFF’s top 50 free agents for 2025

The Houston Texans have one free agent considered among the best entering the 2025 cycle.

The Houston Texans are focused on winning a playoff game and advancing past the AFC Wild Card Round next month, but some fans have waved the white flag on 2024.

Yes, the Texans will represent the AFC South in the postseason.

Yes, Houston still has a chance to go on an improbable run to the Super Bowl.

The Texans, in reality, are several pieces away from competing with the top three AFC rosters for a Lombardi Trophy. That’s where free agency kicks in.

There’s a blend for Houston to re-sign players and add in new talent. One name that should be on watch is All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who despite suffering a torn ACL in October, is expected to be a hot name on the market for any receiver-needy roster.

Diggs should be the Texans’ top priority to extend in free agency, which is exactly how Pro Football Focus sees it.

PFF released its early list of the top 50 free agents of 2025.  Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver with Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston, was the only player from the Texans’ roster to make the cut at No. 11 overall.

Playing in an offense where he was no longer the top target hadn’t hindered Diggs’ effectiveness. The star wideout was on pace to extend his streak of seasons with a PFF receiving grade above 75.0 and a drop rate below 10% on the catchable passes thrown his way.

Diggs’ market was compared to Pierre Garcon’s market in 2017. PFF also mentioned that since he’ll be coming off a severe injury, his market to mirror that of Odell Beckham Jr. in 2023.

A season-ending ACL injury for an older player who wins with lateral agility will make for an interesting free-agent dance.

Prior to suffering a season-ending injury, Diggs was on pace for another strong season as Houston’s No. 2 threat. At the time of the injury, he ranked fifth in catches (470) and eighth in receiving yards (496). He was on pace for another 1,000-yard campaign.

Diggs also said during a recent interview with NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” that he’d be interested in discussing a new deal with the Texans. Tank Dell’s season-ending knee injury might have changed the hearts of those inside NRG Stadium.

While not the only receiver on the market, Houston should be already in talks with Diggs on an asking price to run it back in 2025.

Texans All-Pro WR predicted to leave Houston for NFC franchise

Stefon Diggs could be headed back to New York this offseason rather than sign a one-year deal with the Houston Texans.

Has Stefon Diggs played his last down as a member of the Houston Texans?

The two-time All-Pro receiver suffered a season-ending torn ACL on a non-contact play in Week 8’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. He was on pace for a career year in receptions and would have likely garnered significant interest on the free agent market.

Acquired from the Buffalo Bills in April in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, the Texans voided the final three years of Diggs’ previous contract, thus making him a free agent in 2025. Houston could bring him back on a team-friendly two-year deal and let him rest building up to the 2025 campaign.

Other teams could be willing to pay more even with the injury playing a factor. Despite his injury, the 31-year-old remains a reliable weapon and consistent chain-mover as a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 threat.

If Diggs were to test free agency, he’d had options. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report predicted one of those options to be Tampa Bay as the new No. 2 target for Baker Mayfield over Chris Godwin.

The other options? A return to the Empire State on a new deal with the New York Giants.

A short-term “prove-it” deal could make the Maryland product one of the best bargains of the offseason, though, as he had shown no signs of decline before the injury.

Diggs could be a sneaky target for the Buccaneers, should they lose Chris Godwin in free agency. They are projected to have $31.1 million in cap space, and Diggs might accept an incentive-laden contract that fits with their financial plan.

The New York Giants would also make a ton of sense for Diggs. New York may pivot to a new quarterback in 2025, and Diggs could serve as a high-end No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers—Darius Slayton is set to be a free agent.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll spent two seasons coaching Diggs as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator.

In eight games, Diggs caught a team-leading 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a wild card due to injury, but he’s also proven to be a high-upside target in the right offense, having been a year removed from a near 1,2000-yard campaign in Buffalo.

The Texans (6-4) take on the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) this Monday night on ESPN. Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud comments on loss of WR Stefon Diggs

The Houston Texans will be without one of their top players in Stefon Diggs for the remainder of the 2024 season.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said he didn’t have the words to describe the loss of Stefon Diggs.

It’s a next-man-up mentality inside the Texans’ locker room, but the second-year passer knows the season will be different without the four-time Pro Bowler by his side.

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

Diggs suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact injury during Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts and will miss the remainder of the regular season. He’s expected to make a full recovery and play in 2025.
While attempting to run a route against Kenny Moore, Diggs grabbed his leg and immediately dropped to the ground. While he was able to walk off on his own pressure, he headed to the locker room and did not return to the field.

“He was having one of the best times he’s ever had on a team, at least that’s what he told us,” Stroud said. “I just feel for him and praying for him and just hoping that he keeps his head up high and he’ll bounce back even stronger.”
Acquired from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round pick, Diggs was expected to be the constant No. 2 option for Stroud’s passing attack in a breakout year.
With the Texans voiding the final years of his contract, Diggs will become a free agent next offseason, meaning he could play elsewhere in 2025.
“He’s one guy who gave his all to everything we ever asked him to do,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s hurting and we’re hurting for him as well.”
A consistent playmaker during his time with the Bills and Minnesota Vikings, Diggs served as the Texans’ top option once Nico Collins was placed on the injured reserve. Before the injury, he ranked seventh in the NFL in catches (47) and was second on the Texans in receiving yards (496).

He was on pace for a season-high performance Sunday after hauling in a 49-yard catch in the third quarter. Diggs left with a team-leading five receptions for 81 yards.

“His impact is huge,” Stroud said. “Stef has been somebody who you know you can lean on as a friend, as a teammate, as a brother, somebody who gives you life advice and somebody who just is an OG, just a vet, has played a lot of ball and lived a lot of life.”

Right now, the Texans don’t seem interested in adding a receiver before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5. Their options are also limited after the Ravens traded for Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson Tuesday afternoon.

Davante Adams (Jets), Amari Cooper (Bills) and DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs) were all other options that were traded to AFC contenders earlier this month. Jacksonville’s Christian Krik was expected to be moved before he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone on Sunday.

Houston has weapons outside Diggs and Collins, but the production hasn’t matched the hype entering Week 9. Tank Dell, who broke out with 709 receiving yards in 11 games as a rookie, is third on the Texans in receiving yards (229) and touchdowns (2).

He also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass in Sunday’s win over the Colts during the second quarter.

“Tank has been an explosive player in college he was explosive, he has been explosive for us,” Ryans said. “Tank just has to be Tank.”

 

The Texans envision Dell as a franchise cornerstone, so he’ll need to step up as the new No. 1 until Collins can return.
Dell’s not alone, however, since Robert Woods, John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson are all expected to produce starting Thursday night against the New York Jets.
“Everybody has got to step up,” Dell said. “Even if you are one of the star players, you still have to step up and do more and produce more. I know all of us are more than capable of doing that. So, we are going to try to go out there and make plays.”

Texans officially place WR Stefon Diggs on season-ending injured reserve

Stefon Diggs’ season with the Houston Texans has come to an end after suffering a torn ACL in Week 8.

Stefon Diggs’ season is officially over.

The Houston Texans placed the four-time Pro Bowler on the reserve/injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a torn ACL during Sunday’s win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Diggs, who will be a free agent at the end of the regular season, is expected to make a full recovery and play in 2025.

“He’s been such an important part to our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field, but off the field. The energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday. “Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him.”

Acquired this offseason from the Buffalo Bills, Diggs suffered the injury on a non-contact play in 1:51 remaining in the third quarter. He tried to cut inside against Colts defensive back Kenny Moore II on a route and grabbed his right knee, then sat on the turf.

While Diggs walked off on his own power, he headed to the locker room and didn’t return.

“It’s not easy,” Stroud said. “You try to think positively but it’s not a bunch of positive thoughts. And I just really feel bad for him.”

Expected to be the No. 2 option, Diggs had taken over as Stroud’s favorite target with Nico Collins sidelined. He ranked seventh overall in receptions (47) and was second on the team in receiving yards (496).

“He’s one guy who gave his all to everything we ever asked him to do,” Ryans said. “He’s hurting and we’re hurting for him as well.”

The Texans take on the New York Jets Thursday Night at MetLife Stadium at 7:15 p.m. CT.