For the third straight year, the Buffalo Bills could not make it out of the divisional round of the playoffs. Despite having an elite quarterback in Josh Allen, Buffalo once again fell short in what might be their last chance with their current core. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs didn’t talk to reporters after their season-ending loss, but discussed a possible trade while at the Pro Bowl.
Diggs wants to win and wants to be a featured part of the offense, and neither thing happened last year. Over the final eight games of the regular season, the $96 million man recorded just 37 receptions for 349 yards and one touchdown. When asked about a potential trade, Stefon Diggs did not commit to being back in Buffalo in 2024.
“I feel like I take it day by day,” Diggs said. “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.”
Diggs wasn’t done there, as he also said that he’ll be “ready to go no matter which way it goes” when asked about his future with the team.
Stefon Diggs Won’t Commit to Bills, Could Be A Trade Target
This isn’t the first time Diggs has voiced frustration with the Bills, but it might be the last. Over the previous offseason, the wide receiver missed a portion of mandatory minicamp while outwardly upset with the organization. However, back then Diggs had just signed a massive extension, was a year younger, and was coming off another fantastic season. This year, a few of those factors aren’t present, which could facilitate a Stefon Diggs trade.
As mentioned above, Stefon Diggs was not a featured part of the Joe Brady offense. With Brady now securing the offensive coordinator role, there is a chance that Diggs simply isn’t a fit for what this team wants to do. Additionally, Buffalo is $43.6 million over the salary cap and can clear $19 million in cap space by designating a Stefon Diggs trade as a post-June 1st transaction.
Stefon Diggs is still a good player, but the Bills could trade him if they think his on-field play doesn’t justify his salary and the off-field headache. If the Bills believe his best days are behind him, then they’d be willing to trade him to just about anybody. Per Bovada, these five teams have the highest odds of acquiring Diggs.
Top Trade Destinations
Dallas Cowboys (+200)
The fate of Mike McCarthy rests upon the Dallas Cowboys making a deep playoff run in 2024. The head coach is entering the final year of his contract, and he’ll pull out all the stops to make sure he comes back in 2025. Dak Prescott is great and CeeDee Lamb has firmly established himself as one of the best in the game, but this team needs another receiving threat. Age has caught up to Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup has never recaptured his pre-injury form. Stefon Diggs might not be the player he once was, but he’d be a great second-fiddle to Lamb in this hypothetical trade.
New York Giants (+400)
For better or worse, the New York Giants are stuck with Daniel Jones for at least one more season. Jones isn’t the type of quarterback who can elevate an entire team by himself, but he can succeed in the right environment. Back in 2020, the original Stefon Diggs trade helped turn Josh Allen into one of the best passers in the game. Perhaps something similar can happen with Daniel Jones if the Giants gave him a legitimate threat on the outside.
Kansas City Chiefs (+950)
Would the Buffalo Bills ever trade Stefon Diggs to their biggest conference rival? It doesn’t seem likely, but it’s not impossible. Even though they made it to yet another Super Bowl, the Chiefs could use another wide receiver. Rashee Rice is great, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired. Travis Kelce discovered the Fountain of Youth prior to this playoff run, but he looked like he was slowing down in the regular season. If this continues into 2024, then this team will desperately need a second reliable option in the passing game. Diggs might be on the older side, but he can still be a short-term fix for the Chiefs passing attack.
Baltimore Ravens (+950)
Just like the Chiefs, it’s hard to imagine a world where the Bills trade Stefon Diggs to an elite AFC rival. However, it’s easy to see why the Ravens would want him. The similarities to Kansas City are astonishing, as both teams have a proven tight end (Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce), a promising first-year receiver (Zay Flowers, Rashee Rice), and not much else. Odell Beckham is going to be a free agent, and Rashod Bateman is too inconsistent to be relied upon. Diggs would provide a much-needed veteran presence and might be just what this team needs to get the money off their back.
San Francisco 49ers (+950)
Do the San Francisco 49ers need to trade for Stefon Diggs? As it is, the team has George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Christian McCaffrey catching the ball, a cheap starting-caliber quarterback in Brock Purdy, and the best offensive mind in the game in Kyle Shanahan. Diggs probably wouldn’t get the targets he wants, and this team does not need another pass catcher. Rather than giving up picks and cap space for Diggs, San Francisco should focus on building their offensive line and secondary.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
