Stefon Diggs Is on the Move Again, and Of Course, There Is a Vikings Connection
Josh Frey
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For nearly a decade, Stefon Diggs has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
The All-Pro player was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2015 NFL Draft and spent five seasons in Minnesota before he was shipped off to the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2020 NFL Draft. Now, Diggs is on the move again as the Bills have traded him to the Houston Texans.
Stefon Diggs Heads to Houston
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the trade, tweeting, “Blockbuster: Bills are finalizing a trade to send four-time Pro-Bowl WR Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for draft-pick compensation, sources tell ESPN.”
This means Diggs will officially reunite with his former Vikings teammate and fellow member of Minnesota’s 2015 draft class, Danielle Hunter. Hunter signed a two-year contract with the Texans back in March worth $49 million, including $48 million in guarantees.
Not only do the former Vikings teammates get the band back together again, but the pick that Houston used to acquire Diggs will be a familiar one for Minnesota fans. Schefter followed up his initial report by tweeting out the compensation, “Compensation updates, per sources: Bills receive 2025 second-round pick via Minnesota. Texans receive Stefon Diggs and a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.”
That’s right. The Texans used a second that belonged to the Vikings a few weeks ago in order to acquire Minnesota’s former star receiver. Fans will remember that Minnesota opted to trade that pick to Houston as part of a package to acquire the No. 23 overall pick, thus putting them in strong position to trade up for a top quarterback prospect.
For the Bills, this trade opens up a truly massive hole at their wide receiver position. They had already lost Gabe Davis earlier in the offseason as he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Curtis Samuel is a solid acquisition, Buffalo almost certainly will look to target a wide receiver with one of their first or second round selections this year if not both.
Of course, the last time a team moved on from Diggs, it was the Vikings who ultimately landed Justin Jefferson to immediately replace him. Buffalo will be hoping for something similar to solidify a shaky WR room.
Meanwhile, Diggs once again gets a chance to improve an offense led by a young quarterback, just like he did for the past four years with Josh Allen and the Bills. C.J. Stroud, the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, performed marvelously during his rookie season and won Offensive Rookie of the Year while also leading Houston to an AFC South title and a playoff win over the Cleveland Browns.
Stroud will have an embarrassment of riches surrounding him in 2024. Not only does Diggs give him a quintessential WR1 alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell, but Houston also traded to acquire RB Joe Mixon earlier in the offseason.
The Bills and Texans are slated play in Houston this upcoming season.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.