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Good morning. Just when things were starting to calm down, we saw the biggest trade of the offseason. The NFL news cycle is the gift that keeps on giving. Lots to unpack with Stefon Diggs in Houston.
Today’s NFL update:
- 🚨 Why Buffalo Diggs moved
- 📲 How it happened
- 🏆 The Texans go all out
- 💈The Bear’ expectations
Why Buffalo moved Stefon Diggs
Yesterday, the Texans traded a 2025 second-round pick to the Bills in exchange for two-time All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs. Buffalo is also Sending in progress Houston, a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
I like the trade on both sides. Let’s start with Buffalo.
Why now? Bills general manager Brandon Beane declined to say whether Diggs had requested a trade, but there is at least four reasons why this decision fits Beane’s description as being “in the best interest of future bills.”
1. His performance. Diggs started 2023 with a bang. Entering Week 10, he ranked third in the NFL in receiving yards, led the league in receptions, and was second in receiving touchdowns. But that didn’t help the Bills, who were 10th in the AFC with a 5-5 record after a Week 10 loss.
Looking for a spark and an improved ground game, Buffalo fired OC Ken Dorsey and replaced him with QB coach Joe Brady. This change worked wonders, as the team averaged 27 points per game during a 6-1 run.
But that change didn’t work out for Diggs. With Brady in charge, Diggs had just 315 receiving yards, 57th among WRs during that span, behind names like Wan’Dale Robinson and Elijah Moore. Even teammate Khalil Shakir had more yards – on 32 fewer targets. Then, when they called Diggs’ number at a critical time in the playoffs, he dropped the ball.
The Bills were proving they could win with minimal help from their star WR. Which brings us to the next reason for this trade.
2. His discontent. Signs of tension between Diggs and his quarterback were evident when cameras caught Diggs yelling at Josh Allen during the Bills’ playoff loss to the Bengals two seasons ago.
That was followed by missing the mandatory minicamp, among other distractions. Earlier this week, Diggs posted this:
As AthleticismAccording to Tim Graham, Diggs has exhausted the bills.
The proof: After his performance plummeted, the Bills were so motivated to move him that they took the largest non-QB dead money hit in NFL history ($31 million). Which brings us to the third point.
3. His contract. Yes, the move increase The Bills’ cap hit for Diggs this season is around $4 million, as prepaid bonuses spread out over future years accelerate through 2024.
But by trading him before June 1, Buffalo takes that hit in 2024, giving them an additional $27.3 million in cap space in 2025, according to Sportrac. They’re also saving $18.5 million in cash this year.
4. His age. The Bills moved Diggs — who turns 31 in November — for a premium over the return the Chargers recently saw for 31-year-old WR Keenan Allen (a fourth in 2024).
Diggs is also a casualty of Buffalo moving into a new, younger era to lessen the impact of Josh Allen’s offense. increasingly important milestones. Six of the team’s eight captains have been moved, but the team’s $3.4 million cap hit is still the fifth smallest in the NFL, according to Over the Cap.
What’s next for Buffalo? General manager Beane has traded in the first round before, but has never selected a receiver on day one. With a QB in his prime and an additional second-round pick, don’t rule out a move up for an elite WR prospect. Otherwise, Allen could run 2,000 yards.
Jeff Howe graded this decision a B-minus for the Bills. Now, Dianna has some background.
What Dianna hears: The Diggs deal moved quickly
It took 24 hours for Buffalo’s four-time Pro Bowl WR to be moved. Here’s how it happened.
Tuesday morning, it became real. The Texans had hinted at the possibility at the combine, but first approached the Bills with a serious offer for Diggs on Tuesday. Intrigued – for many of the reasons Jacob mentioned above – the Bills still needed a day to think about it.
Internal conversations in Buffalo began soon after with key personnel and management – even ownership – weighing in. Once the decision was made, Beane called Diggs (who had spoken with Texas players over the past month, including CJ Stroud 👀) to inform him of the trade.
At 11 a.m. ET yesterday, the deal was done. Back to you, Jacob.
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Why Houston Acquired Diggs
Head to Houston, where the Texans show Jerry Jones what “all in” means.
The depth: With a star quarterback on his rookie contract, third-year general manager Nick Caserio is betting big this season. Before acquiring a legitimate No. 1 WR in Stefon Diggs, Houston had impressive second-year WR Tank Dell, PFF’s No. 3 WR in Nico Collins (91.4, ahead of Amon-Ra St. Brown), TE Dalton Schultz and newly acquired. Running back Joe Mixon.
The bill: Long rumored to be targeting a veteran WR1, Houston adds Diggs, who has averaged 111.3 catches, 1,343 yards and 9.3 touchdowns over the past four seasons. Combining Diggs with young Collins and Dell gives Houston OC Bobby Slowik arguably the best WR trio in the NFL.
Preoccupation: The obvious concern is the attitude that accompanies Diggs, who was unhappy in Buffalo four years after asking to leave Minnesota. Texans HC DeMeco Ryans, one of the favorite players, should contribute. CJ Stroud is also known for his leadership, often organize dinners between teammates.
The contract: That’s not an issue here, as the Texans have an exit after this season with no guaranteed major money beyond 2024, and — if they keep Diggs for the second year — his $18.5 million cap hit. in 2025. 15th among receivers. Above the ceiling:
As Jeff Howe notes in his A-minus grade for Houston, if Diggs returns to his pre-Joe Brady form, this trade is a home run.
For what it’s worth, getting Diggs involved in Houston’s offense could lead to a rebound. Once Joe Brady took over as OC in Buffalo, Diggs played less, ran shorter routes, and wasn’t used as an All-Pro talent. Some said it seemed like the Bills were trying to prove they didn’t need him.
Houston has just had the biggest offensive success of the offseason. But don’t forget that the Texans bolstered their defensive line with the addition of star Danielle Hunter and the underrated Denico Autry, just one year after a franchise move in the 2023 draft.
The Texans have never advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs. Fourth in Josh Kendall’s Power rankings Before After the trade, Houston is hoping for more than just a few playoff wins in 2024.
After the trade, their Super Bowl title odds jumped to +1,400. PariMGM, linking them with… the Buffalo Bills. The Josh Allen effect is real.
Around the NFL
The brown ones the situation in the stadium is heating up quickly. As Zac Jackson and Jason Lloyd write, “The Browns aren’t leaving Northeast Ohio. And while no one wants the Browns to leave downtown Cleveland, there’s nowhere to build an indoor facility.
The packers Reporter Matt Schneidman’s seven-round 2.0 draft included a trade for Iowa DB Cooper DeJean. Matt notes that this “gives the Packers someone who has the athleticism to cover space while also being the best defensive back in the class.”
OLB Randy Gregoryformerly of the 49ers, signed a one-year contract with the Buccaneers. In 2022, Gregory signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Broncos before moving him for a sixth-round pick. The 31-year-old is a rotation player and depth addition for Tampa Bay (just wanted to point out the Broncos’ ineptitude).
WR Gabe Davis is a “Swiss knife» for the Jaguars offense, according to HC Doug Pederson. He may have watched highlights of Davis’ four-touchdown game against Kansas City.
Jacob’s choices
📕 The Bears in the playoffs? To set expectations for 2024, Chicago journalist Kevin Fishbain looks back on the last 13 years of QBs drafted No. 1 or No. 2. “Of the 15 taken in the top two picks over the last 13 years, only three have reached the playoffs – Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III. and Stroud. (Athleticism)
🎙 Listen to the Diggs fallout. Robert Mays is joined by “NFL on Fox Podcast” host David Helman to break down the blockbuster trade. They also cover the teams most in play in the NFL Draft. (Podcast)
📺 Stefon Diggs was No. 16 in last offseason’s NFL Top 100. If he plays at this level in 2024, Houston has a good chance of losing to Kansas City again in the AFC championship. (Youtube)
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(Photo: Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)