Tag: stefon diggs trade

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.

Stefon Diggs injury vs Colts: Latest news on Texans WR

The Houston Texans will be without Stefon Diggs for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The Houston Texans will be without Stefon Diggs for the rest of Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

They could be without him for longer depending on the severity of the injury.

Diggs left during the third quarter after suffering a knee injury on a non-contact play and immediately received medical attention from the training staff. He was helped off the field and headed to the locker room for further evaluation.

Stefon Diggs injury update

Diggs, who’s taken over the Texans’ top target with Nico Collins sidelined, tried to break free on a route while in coverage against Colts second-year cornerback Kenny Moore in the slot. Trainers checked on him for several minutes before helping him off the field.

The Texans officially ruled it a knee injury and listed him as out for the remainder of the game. This was the same knee he injured in 2021 and 2016 and missed multiple games.

How long will Stefon Diggs be out?

Any non-contact injury could be crushing. Diggs will undergo further testing to see if it’s a torn ACL or potential sprain. With the Texans on a short week, it’s likely that Diggs won’t play on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets.

Everything else for the remainder of the season remains a mystery.

Stefon Diggs stats

Diggs, who the Texans traded for this offseason following a four-year stay with the Buffalo Bills, had become C.J. Stroud’s go-to target with Collins sidelined because of a hamstring injury. Through seven games, he had 42 catches for 415 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Diggs also has two rushes for 12 yards and a touchdown as well. Before leaving Sunday’s contest, Diggs led the Texans with five catches for 81 yards.

Texans wide receiver depth chart

With Collins already out, the Texans are down to three receivers who have played decent reps. Tank Dell, who caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter, will take over as the new No. 1 option.

Houston also has Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III, plus tight ends Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover.

Texans WR Stefon Diggs shares awkward moment with Bills QB Josh Allen after win

Well, that was just awkward for everyone involved Sunday afternoon.

Well, that was awkward for everyone involved.

Following the Houston Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills, many began to wonder what would be the reaction to Josh Allen’s meeting with Stefon Diggs.

The meeting was brief. Very brief. In fact, in the days of the internet, perhaps it shouldn’t have happened at all.

Allen greeted Diggs with a quick, silent handshake and moved to the locker room. Diggs shook it and gave Allen two taps on his back.

Then they went their separate ways but not before the camera caught Diggs giving Allen one of the meanest side-eyes in recent memory.

It was a professional and unceremonious reunion, but the internet couldn’t stop talking about the awkward moment.

“I can’t say I didn’t think about this game when I got traded,” Diggs said. “I held it in all week energy-wise. I just try to keep it professional but obviously in the back of my mind it meant a lot to me. I wanted to do more showing than telling.”

Much like in real-life breakups, the departure of Diggs from Buffalo was heartbreaking for fans. Someone had come out looking like a winner while the other remained down in the dumps in the first face-off.

On Sunday, Diggs was the winner. He finished with six catches for 82 yards as Houston improved to 4-1. Meanwhile, Allen went 9 of 30 for 131 yards and a touchdown.

No Bills’ pass-catcher went for over 49 receiving yards, and it came with Keon Coleman’s score in the third quarter. Coleman, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Curtis Samuel totaled four combined catches on 18 targets for 76 yards, six fewer than Diggs overall.

“He’s on their team and is a great player and made some good plays tonight for them,” Allen said postgame. “He was on the winning team.”

When traded to Buffalo in 2020, Diggs became the backbone of the Bills’ offense and the top weapon in Allen’s growth. Over his four Pro Bowl seasons, the duo combined for 445 completed, 5,372 yards, and 37 touchdown catches.

Allen and the Bills might have lost the battle but still could win the war en route to securing their sixth consecutive division title. Diggs, however, could be looking forward to a postseason rematch as he becomes the security blanket for another young passer in C.J. Stroud.

The Texans travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots this Sunday at noon CT.

Josh Allen takes percieved shot at former teammate, current Texans WR Stefon Diggs

Josh Allen might have doused a bit more fuel on the fire heading into Week 5’s matchup against the Houston Texans.

Did Josh Allen add a bit more fuel to the fire in Week 5’s matchup against former teammate Stefon Diggs and the Houston Texans?

It certainly seemed that way based on his comments Monday night following a 47-10 thrashing over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Allen, perhaps the early MVP favorite, credited his receivers for making life a breeze at Highmark Stadium on Monday Night Football. He also mentioned how his new cast of pass-catchers aren’t always trying to pad their stats.

“It’s a fun and wonderful thing when you got a bunch of guys that don’t care about the stats, they don’t care about the touchdowns,” Allen told the local media. “And again, I think, throughout practice, we’ve just had this mindset of, ‘Hey, let’s just do things the right way, and find ways to win football games,’ and that’s what we’re doing right now.”

To be fair, Diggs’ name wasn’t mentioned. Also, Allen played against former teammate Gabe Davis, who signed a massive contract in the offseason to leave Western New York to join forces with Trevor Lawrence.

Still, Diggs’ frustration with the offense led to his eventual trade to the Texans this offseason. After the firing of Ken Dorsey, Diggs’ production took a significant dip, leading to 12 consecutive sub-100-yard games.

In two playoff games, Diggs combined for less than 100 yards and 10 catches.

While Buffalo might not have a top-tier target on the roster, it’s been the definition of consistent when scoring. The Bills have scored at least 31 points, with Allen posting a pair of multi-touchdown games.

He’s also yet to throw an interception and currently leads the NFL in passer rating (133.7) while ranking second in completion percentage (75.0).

Diggs, who currently is in a contract year after the Texans voided the final three years on his contract, might be hitting his stride at the right time. Nico Collins leads the NFL in receiving yards, but Diggs leads the Texans in receptions with 20.

In Sunday’s loss against the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs posted a season-high 10 catches on 12 targets for 90 yards.

Houston plays host to the Bills in two weeks after returning this Sunday to take on the Jaguars this Sunday at noon.

Texans training camp: C.J. Stroud and Stefon Diggs connection continues to blossom

Stefon Diggs might have been run out of town last year in Buffalo, but he’s running his way to being the Houston Texans’ No. 1 target in 2024.

Stefon Diggs was brought over from Buffalo to help the Houston Texans extend their explosive passing attack.

On Wednesday, the can’t-miss plays reached a new level.

Diggs and second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud looked in sync deep downfield as the duo connected for a pair of touchdown passes. One went for 40 yards. The other went for 60.

Even with Nico Collins and Tank Dell on the roster, Diggs remains the top name nationally. And even after a sluggish finish to his time in Buffalo, the 30-year-old still looks like a prominent No. 1 receiver and nightmare in man coverage for defensive backs.

“He’s got wicked hands, like wicked hands,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said following Wednesday’s practice. When the ball’s in his vicinity, he can snatch it.”

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl target for Josh Allen, isn’t slowing down. During one-on-one drills, he bested rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter all three times, though one of the passes went out of bounds.

He’s also held his own against Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage. He’s lost a few reps. He’s also won more now with extensive reps alongside Stroud.

“The amount of times those two have put in together with no one else around, with no one watching, no video cameras filming for coaches, you guys not here, they are making sure they are putting the work in,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “We know that and we have seen it a lot of times before it comes to fruition and practice in team periods. You can see it in routes on air.”

Diggs needed a fresh start after another playoff loss in Buffalo. His role decreased after the Bills fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promoted quarterbacks coach Joe Brady.

Even with a lackluster end, Diggs still finished with 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns. He was on pace for an All-Pro year before Dorsey’s departure and has posted six consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns since 2019 with the Vikings.

“He’s got some of the better hands I’ve seen, and then just his ability to get open from an understanding standpoint and [his] route-running, it’s impressive,” Burke said.

So far, Diggs’ role on gamedays has been limited. He didn’t suit up with the rest of the starters in the Hall of Fame game. Last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he played two drives and wasn’t targeted in a 20-12 win.

Starters will play on Saturday against the New York Giants in the preseason home opener and Diggs is expected to see more action. Perhaps fans will finally see him reach the end zone for six points.

If they don’t on Saturday, they’ll have 17 games to catch him this fall. Even with Collins and Dell, Diggs has delivered in practice.

He plans to deliver on Sundays, too.

New Texans WR Stefon Diggs says goodbye to Buffalo, Bills Mafia

Stefon Diggs said goodbye to the Buffalo Bills after a four-year stay before joining the Houston Texans.

Stefon Diggs is excited to be a mainstay with the Houston Texans beginning in 2024, but before he starts hauling in touchdowns from C.J. Stroud, he must say goodbye to Buffalo.

Diggs, who spent the previous four seasons as the Bills’ top weapon, penned his farewell to Western New York via Instagram, thanking them for embracing him as not just a player, but also a personality on and off the field.

“I can’t begin to express the amount of love and respect I have for the city of Buffalo,” he wrote in the post, accompanied by a photo of himself in a Bills uniform. “Four of the best years of my life, the city welcomed me with open arms. I’m forever grateful for you all and the [Buffalo Bills] organization! Something special was built over these years with some very special men, that will always have a place in my heart.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5UjuNfRCLP/

Traded for a 2025 second-round pick, Diggs receives a fresh start with an emerging team looking to go from AFC division winner to legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Consider the four-time Pro Bowl pass-catcher the final piece to the offseason puzzle. General manager Nick Caserio embraced Stroud’s miniscule contract and built around the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Houston brought back tight end Dalton Schultz on a three-year, $36 million contract. They also traded a seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for running back Joe Mixon before quickly inking him to a three-year extension worth up to $27 million.

Diggs, who could be under contract through 2027 if the Texans pick up his option following the season, was consistent during his time with the Bills. He caught over 100 passes per year and finished with at least 1,180 yards and eight TDs.

Reports surfaced last offseason that Diggs was unhappy with his situation in Buffalo following another playoff loss.  The two sides moved past the summer drama by training and Diggs finished the year with 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight scores.

After another loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round, Diggs said his future with the Bills was on a “day by day” basis.

The Texans don’t need Diggs to be the 2020 version of himself. Being a quality second option opposite 2023 breakout star Nico Collins shouldn’t be a tall ask. Stroud, who led the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23:5) is looking to build off a promising rookie campaign.

Diggs, 30, can be another security blanket on the perimeter for Stroud and a vocal presence in the locker room. While his time with the Bills soured, his feelings for the fans remain at an all-time high.

“Billsmafia, so many great memories created throughout the years. Those games were crazy because of you,” Diggs posted. “Sadly good things come to an end until we meet again.”

Grading the Texans trade of Stefon Diggs from Bills

The Houston Texans are adding a top-10 weapon for C.J. Stroud with the trade for Stefon Diggs, but how does the trade look long-term?

The first goal for any rebuilding franchise is to find a promising quarterback with five years of roster control. The second? Build around him and compete for a title while he’s still on a rookie contract.

Consider all those boxes checked for the Houston Texans following Wednesday’s trade.

The Texans are adding former Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick acquired from the Minnesota Vikings. The deal will now have Diggs in Houston through the 2027 season.

Houston continues to build around Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud entering his second season. The former first-rounder already has two breakout targets in Nico Collins and Tank Dell back on rookie contracts.

Last month, the Texans inked a new three-year, $36 million extension with Dalton Schultz just before the franchise tag deadline and also brought in Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler Joe Mixon. Both are here for the long-term after the 27-year-old tailback agreed to terms on a new three-year, $27 million extension after being traded for a seventh-round pick.

Diggs, 30, is the missing piece. He’s the final element needed to turn Houston from a rising AFC South champion into a legitimate AFC contender for years to come. But how does this trade actually grade out for the Texans past 2024?

Continue reading “Grading the Texans trade of Stefon Diggs from Bills”

5 takeaways from the Bills’ trade for Stefon Diggs

The Bills made a bold move to acquire Stefon Diggs in a massive trade that can shake up the AFC.

The Buffalo Bills made a big splash in free agency via trade late Monday by acquiring former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, Stefon Diggs. The new wide receiver is coming off a season where he averaged 17.9 yards per catch, caught six touchdowns, and amassed 1,130 yards on 63 catches.

Diggs was clearly unhappy in Minnesota, and got the move he wanted out and to Buffalo. There are plenty of variables going into this trade, but here some key things to note.

Here are five takeaways from the Bills’ trade for Stefon Diggs:

Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Receiver depth

The Bills made strides in improving their receiver corp last offseason with the additions of John Brown and Cole Beasley. The two made instant impacts during their first season, but the receiving corp around them lacked. The pair combined for 1,838 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.

The rest of the Buffalo’s pass catchers, including running backs, (15) totaled 1,251 receiving yards and caught eight touchdowns. There was clearly room for improvement behind the pair of Beasley and Brown. The addition of Stefon Diggs will give Buffalo another option whether, it be downfield or in the slot. This sort of versatility can create a more dynamic, and unpredictable offense. Plus, it’s assumed that Diggs will be the No. 1 wideout on Buffalo’s depth chart. Brown put up 1,060 yards last season while Beasley had six touchdowns. Both of those were career-highs for them, and now they’re going to draw weaker defensive backs from opponents as Diggs will get all the attention.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Vikings GM Rick Spielman throws water on Stefon Diggs trade rumors

Vikings GM Rick Spielman makes it seem unlikely that Stefon Diggs leaves Minnesota.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has seemed to have his future in question for several months.

Most recently, he deleted the team’s presence from his social media accounts in an apparent attempt to distance himself from the Vikings. So there are questions about whether or not he’ll be in purple and gold again next season. The media (for quite some time) has suggested New England would be an interesting landing spot for the 26-year-old.

At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman faced questions about a potential trade for Diggs.

“There is no reason to anticipate that Stefon Diggs is not going to be a Minnesota Viking,” he told reporters, via SKOR North’s Matthew Coller.

Diggs has recorded 365 receptions, 4,623 yards, and 30 touchdowns in his five seasons in Minnesota. Diggs is in the second year of a five-year contract that seems to be fairly reasonable at $14.4 million per year.

It’s easy to take Spielman’s comments at face value. But it’s also possible that his remarks are an attempt to get more than what’s already being offered for the wide receiver on the trade market. If teams see that the Vikings aren’t looking to get rid of him, they may become more desperate and part with more in order to bring him in.

[vertical-gallery id=80676]