ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are trading their top receiving threat, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in a deal that was agreed to on Wednesday.
The Bills announced that they will receive the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2025 draft, which Houston got in a trade with Minnesota. Houston also got Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, and a fifth-rounder in 2025.
Diggs leaving Buffalo means that quarterback Josh Allen no longer has his favorite target, and their partnership, which has broken passing records since Diggs arrived from Minnesota in March 2020, has come to an end. Together, they transformed the Bills’ offense into one of the NFL’s most potent, helping Buffalo win four straight AFC East titles.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane did not delve into the reasons for making the trade but said the decision was tough and made after consulting with team owner Terry Pegula. He admitted the trade does not make the Bills better today, but will provide future benefits by freeing Diggs’ salary after this season.
“This is not the Bills giving up or taking a step back,” Beane said in thanking Diggs for his contribution to Buffalo. “Everything we do is aimed at winning. It’s April the 3rd or 4th, and we’ll continue to work on this roster and make sure we’re ready to play come September.”
Beane repeatedly referred to this as “the best decision for the Bills moving forward.”
For the Texans, acquiring Diggs gives the offense another playmaker to team with Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Collins led Houston with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns last season. The Texans went from worst to first in the AFC South under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.
Houston has also acquired running back Joe Mixon, along with several improvements on defense.
After the trade, the Texans were 15-1 to win the Super Bowl next season on FanDuel Sportsbook.
The 30-year-old Diggs has nine years of NFL experience and surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his past six seasons. In his first season in Buffalo, he became the Bills’ first player to lead the league in both receiving yards (1,535) and catches (127).
Diggs’ production started to decline in the second half of last season when Buffalo fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promoted Joe Brady, who emphasized the running game. Diggs ended the season with 107 catches and 1,183 yards — both the lowest during his time with the Bills — and eight touchdowns.
In Buffalo, he finished with 445 catches for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns, ranking fourth on the team list. Diggs holds the top four spots on the franchise list for single-season receptions and the top two spots for yards receiving.
Overall, he has 1,178 catches for 9,995 yards and 67 touchdowns since being selected by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of Maryland.
However, Diggs also brought his unpredictable personality from Minnesota to Buffalo. Despite being chosen as a team captain for the past two seasons, he caused some stir with his sideline outbursts and his frustration after the Bills' 2022 season ended with a 27-10 loss to Cincinnati in a playoff game.
Before coach Sean McDermott could speak to the team, Diggs left the locker room and had to be convinced by teammate Duke Williams to return. During the offseason, Diggs posted mysterious messages on social media and chose not to participate in the Bills' voluntary programs.
There was confusion when Diggs didn't show up for the Bills' first required practice and McDermott expressed worry about his absence.
The next day, McDermott corrected himself by stating that Diggs had been excused from practice and was at the facility to address ongoing issues from the previous season.
The disagreements caused Diggs to repeatedly affirm his commitment to the Bills, stating his desire to conclude his career in Buffalo.
In November, Diggs emphasized his dedication, saying, “I take my job seriously. You can see how I play. You can see how I practice. They’ve never questioned me as a player or as a man in terms of what I bring to the table. So my full commitment has never been in doubt.”
Diggs has four years remaining on his contract after signing a four-year, $96 million extension in August 2022.
As per NFL rules, trading Diggs will increase the team’s salary cap by about $3 million this year. The Bills avoid paying Diggs his $18.5 million guaranteed salary in 2024 and will have no salary cap charge for him in 2025.
Among the players released were starting center Mitch Morse, starting cornerback Tre’Davious White, and starting safety Jordan Poyer.
The team also saw No. 2 receiver Gabriel Davis depart in free agency.
Buffalo will have second-year receiver Khalil Shakir returning and have signed receivers Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins in free agency.
Without Diggs, the Bills are expected to focus on drafting a high-quality receiver this month. They have the 28th pick in the draft.