During the recent Pro Bowl games in Orlando, Florida, wide receiver Stefon Diggs raised questions about his future with the Buffalo Bills with his comments. Speaking to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Diggs expressed uncertainty when asked about his optimism regarding his future in Buffalo.
“I feel like I take it day by day. Obviously, there’s a lot of changes going on, a lot of things going on. I can’t really put the carriage before the horse, you know what I’m saying? But I got a great offseason in front of me to put a lot of work in and kind of build around what we got and what we’re doing. I can’t tell you what the future holds, but I’m still being me.”
This ambiguity about his future has sparked speculation about whether Diggs will stay in Buffalo or potentially move to another team in the upcoming season. The article explores the latter scenario, presenting five potential trade packages for Diggs.
It’s worth noting that the Bills could save $19 million in a post-June 1 trade involving Diggs, according to Over the Cap. The team could also gain 2024 draft capital and potentially select a wide receiver in the early rounds who would have a significantly lower cap hit than Diggs’ current $27.9 million.
The proposed trade packages take inspiration from recent blockbuster deals involving wide receivers like Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, and A.J. Brown, aiming to provide potential scenarios for Diggs’ departure from the Buffalo Bills.
Carolina Panthers
The Buffalo Bills are set to acquire EDGE Brian Burns along with a 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 140 overall) in a proposed trade deal. In exchange, the Carolina Panthers would secure wide receiver Stefon Diggs, along with a 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 158 overall) and a 2023 sixth-rounder (No. 197 overall).
The Carolina Panthers, looking to support their rookie quarterback Bryce Young, face the challenge of building a strong team around him after trading their 2024 first-round pick and receiver D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears last year. With $28.6 million in cap space, the Panthers aim to strategically utilize their resources, especially considering the significance of the upcoming offseason for the team’s development and Young’s progress.
In an effort to bolster their roster, Panthers’ general manager Dan Morgan could make a substantial move by acquiring Stefon Diggs. This trade would not only strengthen their receiving corps but also enhance Young’s confidence in the team’s commitment to providing him with a formidable supporting cast.
Given Carolina’s absence of a 2024 first-round pick, they would need to offer one of their premier assets, Brian Burns, a 25-year-old standout pass-rusher with an expiring contract. The Panthers could leverage the franchise tag on Burns and subsequently negotiate an extension with the Buffalo Bills.
From the Panthers’ perspective, Diggs would instantly become the primary receiver, complementing a receiving group featuring Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, and Terrace Marshall Jr. Carolina’s strategy also involves accumulating more draft picks, suggesting a swap of their fifth-rounder for a later pick in the same round and adding a sixth-rounder to bring their total selections to seven.
For the Bills, this trade positions Brian Burns as a potential replacement for Von Miller, considering Miller’s age (turning 35 in March) and the uncertainty surrounding his contract amid domestic violence accusations. Despite the Panthers’ reluctance to part with Burns, the absence of a Day 1 pick and limited impactful assets related to Young’s development might necessitate his inclusion in the deal.
Chicago Bears
The Buffalo Bills are poised to receive a 2024 first-round pick, projected to be the No. 9 overall selection or later, in a proposed trade deal. In return, the Chicago Bears would secure wide receiver Stefon Diggs, particularly after trading down in the first round.
Amid speculation surrounding the Bears’ potential moves in the upcoming draft, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who gathered insights from individuals attending the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, indicated that the consensus is for the Bears to retain the No. 1 overall pick, likely selecting quarterback Caleb Williams.
If Chicago indeed opts for a quarterback as the first pick, they could form one of the league’s premier wide receiver duos by pairing Stefon Diggs with D.J. Moore on the perimeter. Despite a decline in Diggs’ receiving numbers in the latter part of the 2023 season, he still surpassed 1,100 yards for the fifth consecutive year. Meanwhile, Moore enjoyed career highs in catches (94), receiving yards (1,364), and touchdown receptions (eight) in Chicago.
While the addition of Diggs might impact Moore’s production, the Bears’ starting quarterback would undoubtedly benefit from having such a formidable receiving tandem.
Considering Chicago’s quarterback needs, the article suggests that the Bears explore trading down with a team in need of a quarterback to accumulate valuable draft capital. This would be a more favorable alternative than surrendering a top-10 selection for a 30-year-old wide receiver in a direct trade. Alternatively, if a trade down is not feasible, the Bears could negotiate for a mid-round pick in addition to Diggs, providing them with an extra resource to address their draft needs post-free agency.
Houston Texans
The proposed trade involves the Buffalo Bills acquiring the 2024 first-round pick (No. 23 overall) and the 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 123 overall) in exchange for wide receiver Stefon Diggs, with the Houston Texans being the receiving team.
Following a remarkable improvement in the 2023 season, where the Houston Texans transformed from a 3-13-1 team to a 10-7 squad, clinching the AFC South and winning a playoff game, the team seeks to further elevate its performance. Much credit is attributed to quarterback C.J. Stroud, who played a pivotal role in the Texans’ success.
To support Stroud and enhance the team’s offensive capabilities, the Texans aim to bring in Stefon Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. Diggs, renowned for his outstanding 2020 All-Pro season where he led the league in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535), can provide the Texans with an established and skilled target.
Despite Stroud’s impressive passing statistics in the previous season, including 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and a 63.9 percent completion rate with Nico Collins and rookie third-rounder Tank Dell as primary receivers, adding Diggs to the lineup could significantly boost the team’s offensive output. Diggs, with his veteran experience and a reliable 68.8 percent catch rate, has the potential to contribute significantly to Stroud’s passing game, potentially allowing him to approach 5,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns.
Drawing parallels to the Philadelphia Eagles’ acquisition of a prominent No. 1 receiver in Antonio Brown two years ago, the Texans aim to secure a similar impact by trading for Diggs, offering first- and middle-round draft picks. The reference to Philadelphia acquiring Brown for a first- and third-rounder a few months before his 25th birthday serves as a precedent for such high-profile wide receiver trades. While Diggs may come at a slightly lower cost due to his age, the Bills are still in a favorable position to command premium draft capital based on Diggs’ impressive resume and on-field contributions.
Indianapolis Colts
The proposed trade involves the Buffalo Bills receiving the 2024 first-round pick (No. 15 overall) and a fifth-rounder (No. 149 overall), with the Indianapolis Colts acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
Similarly to the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts witnessed a significant improvement between 2022 and 2023 under the guidance of head coach Shane Steichen. Despite falling short of a playoff berth with a loss to the Texans, the Colts transitioned from a team with a top-five draft pick to a competitive 9-8 squad vying for the AFC South title.
Looking ahead, the Colts, under Steichen’s leadership, present a promising future, having fielded a top-10 scoring offense even without rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson for a substantial part of the season. In 17 games, including 13 starts, Gardner Minshew contributed 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Anticipating Richardson’s start in Week 1 of the 2024 season, the Colts could enhance their offensive arsenal by introducing a new lead wide receiver. While Michael Pittman Jr. has consistently led the team in catches and receiving yards for the past three years, Diggs brings a proven touchdown-scoring capability, having accumulated 29 touchdown passes since 2021, compared to Pittman’s 14 during the same period.
Despite Diggs’ notable connection with star quarterback Josh Allen, he has showcased consistent performance, registering at least eight touchdowns in six of the last seven seasons, dating back to his 2017 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings.
The suggested trade package mirrors the A.J. Brown trade, featuring the Colts exchanging a mid-first-round pick and a middle-round selection for a star receiver. With Steichen being an offensive-minded head coach, the possibility of considering a move for Diggs should not be dismissed.
New York Giants
The proposed trade involves the Buffalo Bills receiving defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, a 2024 second-rounder (No. 39 overall pick), and a fifth-rounder (No. 139 overall pick), while the New York Giants would acquire wide receiver Stefon Diggs and a 2024 sixth-rounder (No. 197 overall pick).
The New York Giants have compelling reasons to pursue the acquisition of Stefon Diggs. Primarily, the Giants are in dire need of assistance in their passing game, as none of their receivers managed to surpass 60 receptions or record more than four receiving touchdowns during the 2023 season. Wideout Darius Slayton led the team in receiving yards with 770.
Additionally, the Giants may have fallen short in their trade for tight end Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders, who, in his first season with the Giants, accumulated 52 receptions for 552 yards and a single touchdown. With Waller heading into his age-32 season and having missed 19 games due to various injuries over the past three seasons, the Giants are seeking alternatives.
Furthermore, quarterback Daniel Jones is entering the second term of his four-year, $160 million contract, with $81 million guaranteed. To complement this significant investment in Jones, the Giants recognize the necessity of adding a high-caliber pass-catcher to their roster.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll has a history with Diggs, having served as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills from 2018 to 2021. During Daboll’s tenure, Diggs earned his first and only All-Pro nod in 2020.
To facilitate the trade without offering the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, the Giants propose including two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, a 2024 second-round pick, and swapping Day 3 picks with the Bills. The combination of Lawrence and defensive tackle Ed Oliver would create a formidable presence on the interior, potentially bolstering the Bills’ pass rush.
Given Diggs’ age, which might impact his trade value compared to recently traded wideouts, the Giants might need to dip into their 2025 draft capital to match competing offers. In this scenario, General Manager Joe Schoen could potentially offer a 2025 third-rounder instead of a fifth-rounder in the upcoming draft to entice the Bills.
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