Tag: Stefon Diggs

Andre Johnson excited for Texans’ addition of WR Stefon Diggs

Andre Johnson, the Houston Texans’ all-time leader in touchdowns, is excited to see what All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs brings to the offense

Andre Johnson knows something about catching touchdown passes at NRG Stadium. After all, he’s still the Houston Texans’ all-time leader in almost every receiving category, including touchdowns with 70. 

While the future Hall of Famer isn’t expecting newly acquired pass-catcher Stefon Diggs to break his record in 2024, Johnson is excited to see the Pro Bowler guide Houston back to the postseason alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

“I thought we already had a great receiving corp, but I think [Diggs] has elevated it even more,” Johnson told KPRC2 Sports Tuesday evening during the Texans’ uniform reveal party. “I got a chance to talk to him a little bit. I’m He’s super excited about being here, great player. I just can’t wait to see how we put it all together.”

The Texans acquired Diggs earlier this month, sending a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings) to Buffalo. Houston also acquired two draft picks: a 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 189 overall) and a 2025 fifth-round pick. 

Houston was looking for a veteran receiver for Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud after winning its first division title in four years. Last season, the Texans finished seventh in passing as Stroud led the league in passing yards per game (274) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-5). 

As part of the blockbuster move, the Texans voided the final three years of Diggs’ contract signed back with Buffalo back in 2022, making him a free agent this offseason. Diggs, 30, should be hungry to prove his best years are still ahead while earning another major payday. 

While Diggs saw a dip in his production after a hot start in 2023, he still remains one of the league’s premier weapons. Since his trade from Minnesota in 2020, Diggs has led the league in receptions with 445. 

In four years with Buffalo, Diggs posted at least 1,110 receiving yards and 103 catches each year. In 2020, he led the NFL in receptions (127) and totaled back-to-back 10-plus touchdown campaigns in 2021 and 2022. 

Collins, who also enters a contract year, is coming off a career-high 1,297-yard season as Stroud’s No. 1 target. Dell, a third-round pick out of Houston, was on pace to finish with 1,205 receiving yards before suffering a season-ending injury in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos in Week 13. 

Houston also traded for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz to a three-year, $36 million extension.

Stroud also has been pleased with the development of former second-round pick John Metchie III, who missed the entirety of his rookie season after undergoing treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare but treatable form of cancer.

Nick Caserio reveals why Texans wanted WR Stefon Diggs

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio knows that Stefon Diggs is one of the league’s top receivers, which is why he’s now C.J. Stroud’s new top target.

Stefon Diggs has been one of the NFL’s most productive receivers for nearly a decade.

He’s also been one of the most talked-about players given his brash personality on the field and social media.

The former, however, is why the Houston Texans were adamant about acquiring him for the 2024 season as the next top target for Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. As for the ladder, the organization isn’t concerned about his past stops or previous problems.

“He’s an experienced player, he’s been productive, he’s instinctive, he has good hands,” Texans executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio said Thursday. “Our system is maybe a little bit different than the system he was in in Buffalo, but he was as productive as any player in the league.”

The Texans traded for Diggs on April 3, sending a 2025 second-round pick acquired from the Minnesota Vikings to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the four-time Pro Bowler. Now in Houston, Diggs joins a passing attack headlined by breakout target Nico Collins, second-year standout Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz. 

There’s reason for optimism, but also skepticism, especially given how Diggs’ tenure ended at his previous locations. In Minnesota, he reportedly asked for a trade after seeing a drop-off in his role with the offense.

After four productive years in Buffalo as Josh Allen’s No. 1 target, tensions rose following a decline in his numbers. Diggs, 30, was off to a hot start in 2023 with five 100-yard outings. After Week 6, he never came close to that marker for the rest of the year.

While some have labeled Diggs a “diva,” Caserio mentioned that was never an issue. The only persona that mattered to Houston was his on-field one and how he could add another element to the defending AFC South champs’ offense.

“Candidly, I think it’s unfair to label anybody until they actually have an opportunity to walk in the building,” Caserio said. “Again, our environment is different than another environment, so we really don’t know what’s going on in 31 other buildings. We know what’s going on in our building. We are excited to have Stef here.”

Caserio made sure to cross off every reason for concern before finalizing a trade. He and coach DeMeco Ryans dug well past Diggs’ fit in the offense, checking in with former teammates about his locker room presence and demeanor.

For Houston, this offseason was built around Stroud, who led the league in passing yards per game (274) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-5) while guiding the team to its first division title in four years. Much like Buffalo in 2020, the Texans wanted to add a proven playmaker to fortify any apprehension of regression following a postseason berth.

Allen’s gone on to become one of the league’s top quarterbacks after a pair of underwhelming seasons to start his career. Stroud is further along in his progression that the Bills’ gunslinger was entering Year 2, and could be a favorite to win league MVP later this year.

Diggs, who’s posted six 1,000-yard seasons since 2019, was a key element in locking Allen’s potential in Orchard Park. He won’t have to be the offensive top weapon in Houston, but rather a promising supporting cast member opposite Collins, Dell, Schultz, Joe Mixon and John Metchie III.

“He’s been a great player in this league for a long time,” Ryans said Monday. “He is well-respected. He’s been a great teammate; he’s been a leader and a captain.

“He changes games for the teams he’s been a part of, and we’re anticipating the same thing for us.”

C.J. Stroud breaks down thoughts on Texans’ trade for Stefon Diggs

C.J. Stroud was still sleeping when the Houston Texans traded for Stefon Diggs, but he’s wide awake on building a relationship in 2024.

C.J. Stroud was still asleep back home in Los Angeles when his phone started to ring. Multiple friends began to text him about how he felt. 

While in in daze, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year responded with a few ‘I’m good fam, how bout you’ texts before rolling back over to catch a few more minutes of slumber, 

Eventually, Stroud woke up, went to the bathroom, and brushed his teeth. There, he found out why everyone was asking how he was doing. They weren’t checking in, but rather wondering about his feelings toward the Houston Texans’ trade for Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs. 

“I was very excited,” a delighted Stroud said Monday at the start of voluntary workouts.

Traded to Houston in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, Diggs headlines as the new top target for the reigning AFC South champions. He won’t be alone in the passing attack for Stroud entering Year 2, but he is the most proven among those expected to compete for starting reps. 

Since 2015, Diggs has been one of the league’s top targets. He’s posted six consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, dating back to his time with the Minnesota Vikings. In four years with the Buffalo Bills, the Pro Bowler hauled in at least 103 passes, including a league-leading 127 catches in 2020. 

“He’s been a great player in this league for a long time, well respected,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s been a great teammate, he’s been a leader, a captain. And, when you look at him and watch the tape … no one doubts the playmaker that he is.” 

With Diggs and new running back Joe Mixon in the fold, Houston looks poised to make a deep run for the postseason. Behind Stroud’s record-setting rookie campaign, the Texans won the AFC South for the first time in four years before pulling off the upset against the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round. 

Diggs, 30, won’t be the only top target at NRG Stadium like at times in Orchard Park for All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen. Nico Collins broke onto the scene with over 1,200 receiving yards last season. Rookie Tank Dell and veteran Dalton Schultz also posted stellar seasons amid a top-10 finish in the passing game. 

“I think we have a lot of potential,” said Stroud. “A ton of guys who have played a lot of meaningful ball. A lot of guys who can do different things with the ball, which is amazing.”

While Diggs finished with over 1,100 receiving yards last season, his production dipped in the second half. After posting five 100-yard games in the first six weeks, he never posted another triple-digit outing following the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. 

In two combined playoff games, he finished with 10 catches for 73 yards. 

Those around the organization, including Ryans, believe Diggs is only getting started. He should be hungry entering a contract year after the Texans elected to void the final three years of a $102 million extension signed with the Bills in April 2022. 

“The guy has been an All-Pro player, he’s been a Pro Bowl player, over 1,000 yards for multiple seasons,” said Ryans. “So, we’re excited about adding Diggs to our team.”

Stroud, who became the fifth rookie passer to throw for over 4,000 yards in their first season, said he and Diggs first connected at the Pro Bowl back in February. He didn’t know at the time they’d later be partnering up for a Super Bowl run two months later. 

While Diggs hasn’t met with the media yet, he’s already built a rapport with Stroud and several other Texans’ teammates. The former No. 2 pick hosted Diggs, Dell, and third-year receiver John Metchie out in California to run drills before the start of workouts.  

“He has a lot of wisdom that he carries that I think he’ll spread to other guys,” Stroud said of Diggs. “He’s been reaching out to really everybody, and I think that whole room in general is going to be great. I think we’re all going to eat off each other.”

Entering next week’s draft, the Texans have the seventh-best odds to win this year’s Super Bowl, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Michigan WR Roman Wilson would ‘love’ to play with C.J. Stroud and Texans

In an exclusive interview with Texans Wire, former Michigan receiver Roman Wilson reveals his thoughts on former rival C.J. Stroud.

Could the Houston Texans still draft a receiver?

The AFC South champions acquired Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills. His addition should create potentially the best receiving trio in football alongside 2023 breakout star Nico Collins and second-year standout Tank Dell.

Questions still have persisted if the Texans could opt to add a young, cost-controlled talent in a loaded receiver draft class.

One potential option is Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson. The Swiss-army knife target thrived during his four seasons in Ann Arbor, but broke out in 2023 with 12 touchdowns and 789 receiving yards en route to a national championship.

Most scouts consider him to be one of the top receivers in the class. and expect him to hear his name called somewhere on Day 2 of next week’s draft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5oxQjJu-6p/

At Michigan, Wilson faced then-Ohio State and now Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud twice. In both installments of “The Game,” Michigan walked away victorious.

Wilson, however, came away impressed with the rival passer. While enemies in college, Wilson would have no reservations about the idea of teaming up with the Buckeye legend.

“He’s a phenomenal quarterback, he’s a follower of God,” Wilson told Texans Wire of Stroud. “I remember in his commitment process, he was thinking about going to Michigan and and I kind of got to meet him for a little bit, talked to him. I mean, he’s a great guy and you know, I would love to play for him.”

Wilson would love to command the slot as Stroud’s next big target in Houston. The Texans’ quarterback piloted what many consider the best rookie quarterback season in NFL history while capturing NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and helping the Texans to an AFC South title and a playoff victory.

To his credit, Houston may very well have shared interest in Wilson. The team was present at the 2024 Reeses’ Senior Bowl where he dominated and they’ve shown a history of drafting Senior Bowl players, with Dell, Jarrett Patterson, and Xavier Hutchinson last year. Additionally, Wilson confirmed he spoke with Houston last month in Indianapolis.

“We talked a little bit,” Wilson said before dropping an inescapable caveat. “That was before they got Diggs. So I mean whatever happens, happens and I would love to play for the Texans”

It may be unlikely for Houston to invest the level of draft capital they’d need to secure Wilson after the heavy investment to bring Diggs from Buffalo. Still, the national champion would be an undeniable asset to the organization and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Diggs, who completed his sixth 1,000-yard season between Buffalo and Minnesota, could be a one-and-done in The Loop. Houston voided the final three years of his contract, adding an extra $3.5 million to his current contract this upcoming season.

Maybe Wilson is on the shortlist of players whom Nick Caserio would pull the trigger to acquire. If so, two former Big Ten rivals could be fixtures in the AFC South for years to come.

Wilson recently partnered with Six Star Pro Nutrition, to help launch their new protein shake in Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal flavor. The cereal flavored product, which launches this month, will be available exclusively at Sam’s Clubs locations. He took time to talk with the Texans Wire about his new partnership and his recruitment process as it relates to the Houston Texans.

Fans will have to wait and see if Houston is willing to throw further accelerant on their offense and add a dynamic talent like Wilson on Day 2. In the meantime, they may have to check out Sam’s Club if they want to see just how Wilson has prepared for the moment.

Report: Bills could trade back at 2024 NFL draft

ESPN note:

The Buffalo Bills have a huge need at the wide receiver position as the 2024 NFL draft approaches.

After trading Stefon Diggs, the idea of trading up came into the minds of many in Buffalo… but perhaps not the one on Brandon Beane’s shoulders.

According to ESPN’s NFL draft insider Jordan Reid, the Beane and the have an interest in moving back (or staying at) from their top selection at No. 28 overall in Round 1:

What we’re hearing about the Bills’ draft: Even before the Diggs trade, there has been some expectation that the Bills will be aggressive in trying to move up for a wide receiver on Day 1 — but I’m actually hearing the opposite. The Bills might ultimately be content with letting the draft play out and addressing the position at No. 28 — or even possibly trading back. If things go that way, Keon Coleman (Florida State) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina) are worth watching. Buffalo lacks a true boundary X receiver, and both would provide value in that role as strong, physical pass-catchers. — Reid

The Bills moving back a few selections might have to do with a few factors. There are a few top prospects at the receiver position at the upcoming draft, namely Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze. All three could go in the top 10 and Buffalo might not have the ammo to go up the board.

So why not go back and take a few more swings since both Diggs and Gabe Davis, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, are gone?

On top of that, Buffalo was projected to receive a third-round compensatory selection at the upcoming draft. It ended up being a fourth, which could have altered their plans.

Just another potential factor to watch at this year’s draft for the Bills.

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Stefon Diggs revels in the drama, likes a Tweet trashing Bills fans

“Bills lowkey got the worse fanbase y’all bitter asf in the comments”

Buffalo Bills fans are some of the most passionate and battle-tested in the NFL.

They’re the ones that kept showing up through more than two decades of losing, braving lake effect snow just to watch Tom Brady mop up their team (and occasionally throw, uh, marital aides at him). They rallied to Orchard Park and put each other through flaming, fold-out tables in times good and bad. They showed up in frigid weather to watch Josh Allen blossom from maligned draft pick to MVP candidate alongside Stefon Diggs, the wideout acquired from the Minnesota Vikings who’d make four Pro Bowls in four seasons in Buffalo.

Diggs seemed to thrive off this energy. He high-fived fans after wins. He tossed balls into the stands for a game of catch in his pre-kickoff warm-up. He grabbed their beers for a Stone Cold Steve Austin celebration after scoring.

But Diggs is no longer a Bill. Buffalo shipped him to the Houston Texans for a second round pick, theoretically weakening their 2024 roster while absorbing more than $31 million in dead cap space specifically so he wouldn’t play for the team this fall.

Diggs has never been afraid to speak his mind on the field or address issues passive aggressively off it. And this week, he found a new avenue for that; liking a Tweet that called Bills fans “bitter” and “lowkey the worse [sic] fanbase.”

via twitter

It’s the latest turn in a saga that saw Buffalo rise to new heights with Diggs in the lineup, but never break through for the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. Diggs was a hero for the Bills, but he also made remarks that hinted at his unhappiness there and allowed his brother Trevon, All-Pro cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, to publicly trash the team and suggest Stefon needed to leave.

Diggs will see his old team in 2024 when Buffalo makes the trek to Texas during the regular season. He won’t have to deal with too many Bills fans there. But if the Texans wind up having a date in Orchard Park in the near future, the four-time Pro Bowler may not get the reception befitting a wideout who had more than 5,300 receiving yards in his four seasons with the team.

New Texans WR Stefon Diggs lets true feelings known about Bills Mafia

Stefon Diggs didn’t say much, but one like made it clear he was ready for a fresh start with the Houston Texans.

Stefon Diggs has been known for voicing his opinion on social media, mostly “X,” formerly known as Twitter.

While the now-Houston Texans star didn’t tweet out his thoughts on the Buffalo Bills and their fans, he certainly didn’t mince his feelings by pushing the heart button in the bottom-right corner.

One user messaged Diggs to take a shot at Bills Mafia, calling one of the rowdiest fans in the NFL “bitter.” Instead of ignoring the tweet and going about his day, Diggs hit the liked button, which created a frenzy on the app among those back in Orchard Park.

Maybe Diggs does feel as if the Bills have the worst fans in the NFL. That seems far-fetched given their loyalty to a franchise that hasn’t returned to the Super Bowl since losing four consecutive matchups for the Lombardi Trophy in the 1990s, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.

Perhaps Diggs is looking to start fresh, thus doing everything to close that chapter of his life for a brighter future.

But Diggs, whom the Texans traded a 2025 second-round pick to acquire, was a fan favorite. He was a constant in the passing attack for Josh Allen and one of the league’s most productive players during his four-year stay with the AFC East champions.

Once Diggs, 30, joined the mafia, it felt like Buffalo elevated its status from playoff contender to Super Bowl one. They clinched the division title four straight times and made it to the AFC championship in 2021.

The hope for Houston is Diggs offers a similar feel without any of the drama. The Texans, headlined by rookie of the years C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., won their first division title in four years and claimed a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Now, the Texans are all-in for winning a conference title and bringing a Lombardi Trophy back to NRG Stadium. Standing in their way? Buffalo, which heads to Houston for a must-see showdown at some point during the regular season.

Let’s hope that’s the only time drama surrounds Diggs during his time in Houston.

Stefon Diggs’ most recent ‘like’ on social media was not nice to Bills Mafia

A curious one here…

The message on Twitter/X that Stefon Diggs has most-recently “liked” is causing a bit of a stir.

Diggs was traded by the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans. The move was a shocking one because prior to it, Diggs was a fan favorite in Buffalo.

Before nearly every game he would play catch with fans in the crowd. The fan base, Bills Mafia, always went to bat for him and defended him against negative headlines.

But since the dust has settled, were there some underlying feelings held by Diggs?

Diggs, 30, has liked a comment on his social media account that took a shot at Bills Mafia which called them the “worse fanbase” in the NFL and “bitter.”

Yes, this is how the world works in 2024, and here is the post:

At the time of posting, Diggs had not yet “unliked” the message. It was originally posted 10 hours prior.

Could it be a mistake by Diggs? Perhaps. He usually does not “like” many messages on social media, though… so might be hard for him to say that was the case.

There’s also the possibility Diggs is just trying to wind up people and fans in Buffalo up as well.

Regardless, this one could add some fuel to the fire… at least for fans… when Buffalo travels to face Houston during the 2024 season.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter: Stefon Diggs had ‘run his course’ with Bills

ESPN’s Adam Schefter: Stefon Diggs had ‘run his course’ with the #Bills:

Following the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans trade centering around receiver Stefon Diggs, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter did some… digging.

According to an update, the Texans had long been in the market to make this move with their prior trade with the Minnesota Vikings coming into the equation.

But when it comes to the Bills, Schefter noted that the  bond between the team and Diggs just came to an end.

“This was a relationship in Buffalo that had run its course,” Schefter said.

Schefter’s full breakdown can be found below:

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reveals how Texans landed WR Stefon Diggs

The Houston Texans shocked the NFL world after trading away the No. 23 pick to the Minnesota Vikings, but that was the plan from the jump when they realized Stefon Diggs could be coming to town.

Stefon Diggs is officially a member of the Houston Texans and hopes to be the reason why the AFC South winners are contenders again in 2024.

But how did Houston land Diggs? What happened behind closed doors that led to Buffalo cutting ties with the disgruntled wide receiver and taking a $31 million dead-cap hit?

Surprisingly, his old team in Minnesota was involved.

During an interview on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned that Houston planned on trading its first-round pick (No. 23) to the Vikings to land better draft compensation without moving too far down the pecking order.

Minnesota offered its second-round pick (No. 42), a sixth-round pick (No. 188) and a 2025 second-round pick. That latter was used to acquire Diggs, along with a 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 189) and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

“A couple of weeks back, the Texans went to the Vikings to initiate a trade to get out of the first round,” Schefter said. “Everybody assumed it was the Vikings so they can go up and get a quarterback. But it was the Texans so they could be in a position to make a trade, like they did on Wednesday, for Stefon Diggs.”

Diggs heads to Houston looking for a career year to set up a payday next offseason. After Houston finalized the trade, it elected to void the final three years of his four-year, $104 million extension signed with Buffalo back in April 2022.

Houston still believes the version of Diggs that closed out 2023 will remain back in Buffalo and that a more aggressive and hungry version will take the field at NRG Stadium. Since 2020, he has led the league in receptions (445) and is one of only four players in league history to record four consecutive seasons with 100-plus receptions.

Diggs is also one of two receivers to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past four seasons, along with the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill.