The Houston Texans shocked the NFL world with the team’s performance last season, and the acquisition of Stefon Diggs could take them to another level in 2024. Houston acquired the 30-year-old star wide receiver from the Buffalo Bills in April.
As the Texans are surrounding rising star quarterback C.J. Stroud with proven weapons, the Bills are going in a different direction. Similar to what the Kansas City Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes in 2022, Buffalo is seemingly ready to see what star quarterback Josh Allen can do with cost-effective weapons around him.
Stefon Diggs Trade Details
Diggs was traded on April 3, 2024, nearly three weeks before the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Texans received:
- Stefon Diggs, WR
- 2024 sixth-round pick, No. 189 overall (traded to Detroit Lions)
- 2025 fifth-round pick
The Bills received:
- 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings)
The Texans traded the No. 189 overall pick that they received from the Bills in the 2024 NFL Draft. Houston flipped that selection to the Detroit Lions in exchange for the No. 205 overall pick and the No. 249 overall pick. With those picks, the Texans selected running back Jawhar Jordan and offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson.
Players Involved in the Diggs Trade
Although Diggs was the only player directly involved in the trade, the deal impacted several players. Not only did the Bills trade Diggs to Houston, but the team also lost wide receiver Gabe Davis in free agency as well. As a result, Buffalo was forced to move in an entirely new direction at wide receiver this offseason.
While the Bills attempt to piece together the team’s wide receiver depth chart, Houston is stacked at the position. Diggs joins a talented wide receiver room that includes Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, and John Metchie III. Although, Woods and Metchie have been discussed as potential trade candidates, given the team’s depth.
Who Won the Diggs Trade?
As training camp approaches, it’s easy to label the Texans as the early winners of this deal. Considering that Houston has Stroud locked in for at least the next four seasons of his rookie deal, it’s smart for the franchise to go all in and surround him with elite talent.
One notable aspect of Houston’s trade for Diggs is that both sides agreed to restructure his contract. Although the star wide receiver had several years remaining on his existing deal, they agreed to convert his contract into a one-year deal, including $22.52 million guaranteed.
While it’s a bit of a peculiar move given that Houston traded a second-round pick for Diggs, it makes sense for both sides and allows them to potentially hammer out a massive contract extension before the 2025 offseason. Although, Houston did sign rising star wide receiver Collins to a three-year, $72.5 million extension in May as well.
Now the Texans are heading into the foreseeable future with Collins and Dell locked in for at least the next three seasons alongside Stroud. While Diggs is only under contract for one more season, it’s easy to see him signing an extension with the Texans for 2025.
On the other side of the deal, the Bills were forced to make several tough decisions this offseason due to the team’s salary cap situation. Although Diggs and Davis both played a pivotal role in Allen’s growth into becoming a superstar quarterback, Buffalo decided to move on from the duo.
Now the Bills are transitioning into a new-look situation at wide receiver in 2024. Similar to what Mahomes did in 2022, Allen will have to prove that he is capable of elevating the skill position players around him. Buffalo essentially went bargain-bin shopping at wide receiver this offseason, as they signed several new players at the position.
Khalil Shakir is likely the only wide receiver that Allen has a pre-existing relationship with who will play a role for the Bills in 2024. Outside of Shakir, there are plenty of new faces at wide receiver in Buffalo.
The most notable addition is Keon Coleman, who the Bills selected with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Coleman has quickly captivated the NFL world with his hilarious personality and viral clips on social media. But his abilities on the field are certainly worth taking seriously, as he could quickly become WR1 for the Bills in 2024.
Beyond Coleman, the Bills signed several veteran wide receivers to relatively inexpensive contracts. Buffalo signed Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million contract, the team’s most expensive addition at the position this offseason. Samuel is a versatile player who could flourish in Joe Brady’s offensive scheme.
Mack Hollins, Chase Claypool, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and KJ Hamler all signed deals with the Bills as well. Buffalo is clearly willing to throw a few low-cost darts at wide receiver and see what sticks. Given how talented Allen is, it could prove to be a wise decision.