The Buffalo Bills will officially be looking for a new leading wide receiver for the 2024 season following their seismic, league-shaking trade on Wednesday that saw Stefon Diggs join the Houston Texans.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane only needed a few hours to recollect himself and address the media after pulling off the blockbuster deal. Right away, Beane was brutally honest with reporters about what transpired.
Buffalo Bills General Manager Opens Up About Stefon Diggs Trade
Beane and his team are earning a 2025 second-round selection in their swap with the AFC South champions. Additionally, the Texans get a 2024 sixth-round selection (No. 189) and a 2025 fifth-rounder.
But does Beane believe the Bills are in better shape after trading away their four-time Pro Bowler? While he’s grateful for Diggs’ contributions, Beane knows Buffalo made a hard decision.
“When we traded for him in the COVID[-19] year [2020,] and I really appreciate everything you brought to the team — was a big part of, you know, us winning four divisions — these moves are never easy. Very hard, not made overnight, anything like that,” Beane began. “But anytime you make a move like this, as I said, very difficult. You’re doing it, you’re trying to win, and sometimes people may not see that.”
Beane described the pros and cons of considering a trade like Diggs’. He articulated that he and Diggs had a great morning conversation, describing it “as if he’s already walked out of here yesterday or the day before.” But still, Beane was honest about the current state of the Bills.
“You know, this is by no means the Bills giving up or trying to take a step back or anything like that,” Beane said. “Everything we do, we’re trying to win, and we’re going to continue to do that. It’s, you know it’s April 3 or 4, whatever it is, and we’ll continue to work on this roster and make sure we’re ready to play come September.”
Regardless, Beane and the Bills’ decision sparked multiple conversations across the league, including some criticism. Beane defended the move.
“It wasn’t easy. But there was a lot of thoughts and discussion and conversations with the highest levels of our organization. It was made with the best interest of the Bills,” Beane said.
“I want to win all that too. But we all have to keep an eye on what it is. We all had to look at what we looked at this year with the salary cap. It frees over $27 million off our cap and gives us more flexibility for the future.”
Does Beane believe the Bills are in greater shape without Diggs though?
“Are we better today? Probably not,” Beane began. “It’s a work in progress, and we’re going to continue to work that. I would just hope that people know I’m competitive as hell, I ain’t giving in, and we’re gonna work through this, and we’re going to continue to look. I’m confident in any of the guys we have on the roster and in the staff we have upstairs that helps me that we’ll find pieces to add and we’ll be ready to roll come September.”
How Will the Bills Replace Diggs?
Now many NFL fans, including Bills Mafia, will sit and watch how Buffalo will address finding Diggs’ replacement.
Will their decision be based on seeking experience? Making a trade? Or will they wait until April 25 when the Bills select No. 28 overall in the first round? Beane outlined his idea.
“There’s still veterans out there. We’ll look and see if there’s someone who can fit,” Beane said.
But that doesn’t mean the incoming rookie class of WRs will get ignored on the Bills’ draft board.
“We’ll also grade our draft board and put them in the order we see them. You still got to take good football players,” Beane said. “We’ll monitor who’s available now and after the draft. It’s about making our offense the most dynamic as it can, and we’ll continue to work to do that.”
There are still veterans available with a history of producing Pro Bowl numbers. PFN’s John Fields listed free agents Michael Thomas and Odell Beckham Jr. as two names who could attract Buffalo. Both are past Pro Bowl talents who are currently unsigned.
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Fields added two other marquee names worth trading for on the Bills’ end: San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins. Both are 1,000-yard wideouts with their names attached to trade chatter amid their own contract situations.
As for the draft, PFN’s Dallas Robinson now projects Buffalo to “double-dip” on wideouts. Robinson predicts Adonai Mitchell of Texas landing at No. 32 in a mock trade down with the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Bills then adding Ja’Lynn Polk of Washington at No. 60 in the second round.
Diggs Says Goodbye to Buffalo
On Wednesday evening, Diggs posted a goodbye message to the Bills fan base on social media.
Stefon Diggs bids farewell to Buffalo on IG: pic.twitter.com/lSVj7lvnAP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2024
“I can’t begin to express the amount of love and respect I have for the city of Buffalo,” Diggs said in a heartfelt message.
“Four of the best years of my life, the city welcomed me with open arms. I’m forever grateful for you all and the @buffalobills organization! Something special was built over these years with some very special men, that will always have a place in my heart.”
“Billsmafia, so many great memories created throughout the years. Those games were crazy because of you. Sadly good things come to an end until we meet again.”