Farewell, Dallas Cowboys rumors, but hold onto your hats, Texans fans – the Buffalo Bills just pulled off a stunner. In a jaw-dropping move, star wide receiver Stefon Diggs is heading to Houston.
The trade marks the end of Diggs’ successful yet occasionally tumultuous tenure in Buffalo, where his knack for creating drama often kept headlines buzzing.
“I don’t know,” Diggs remarked at the Pro Bowl when asked about his future with Buffalo. “I feel like, as far as the money and all that, I can’t control any of that. It’s a long offseason ahead. As for what’s to come, I don’t have any surprises for you right now.”
Despite a solid 2023 season, Diggs’ production tapered off in the latter half, totaling 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns for the year. In the final eight regular-season games, he caught 37 passes for 349 yards and one touchdown.
Trading Diggs wasn’t a straightforward task. Buffalo faces a $3.24 million cap penalty and over $31 million in dead money. Moreover, finding a team capable of absorbing his $27.854 million salary posed a challenge.
That hefty figure likely deterred teams like the Dallas Cowboys from pursuing a reunion between Diggs and his brother, Trevon Diggs. But the Houston Texans, possibly maneuvering their finances, now emerge as genuine contenders in the AFC.
It’s reminiscent of Buffalo’s move in 2020 when they acquired Diggs to bolster Josh Allen’s arsenal, propelling the offense to new heights. The outcome exceeded expectations, with Allen ascending to one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks, Diggs earning four Pro Bowl nods and one All-Pro selection, and the Bills clinching the AFC East four consecutive times.
After an impressive season led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, culminating in a Divisional Round appearance following their AFC South triumph, the Texans are poised to replicate Buffalo’s bold leap.
Houston boasts receiving talent, with Nico Collins leading the pack with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. Rookie Tank Dell showcased promise with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games before a fractured fibula cut his season short.
To contend in the AFC alongside powerhouses like the Bills, Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals, the Texans must go toe-to-toe. A revitalized Diggs could be the catalyst that propels Houston to new heights, perhaps even surpassing the Bills in the process.
