It had been predicted for the previous two offseasons, and it finally happened last week.
Stefon Diggs’ departure from the Buffalo Bills appeared inevitable at some point, and General Manager Brandon Beane eventually pulled the trigger, trading the two-time All-Pro receiver to the Houston Texans for a 2025 second-round pick in a move that upended the AFC’s power balance.
The switch appeared to happen swiftly, but Beane insisted quarterback Josh Allen was not kept in the dark about it.
“I did notify Allen that there had been some inquiries, and it was not completely off the table,” Beane told reporters last week. “… Josh and I talk about things on a regular basis, and I think it’s vital for me to let him know if I think something might happen so he doesn’t get caught off guard.”
Despite what both players officially stated, Allen’s relationship with Diggs appeared to deteriorate during the past two seasons.
Diggs and the two-time Pro Bowler have had their fair share of sideline spats over the years, with one of the final straws apparently coming after the Bills’ Week 1 loss to the New York Jets. Allen and Diggs reportedly had a heated conversation in the locker room following the game.
Despite any disagreements, there’s no disputing Allen and Diggs were one of the top QB-WR combinations in the NFL for the past four years.
Diggs led the league in grabs and yards in his debut season in Buffalo, and he averaged 150 targets, 103 receptions, 1,183 yards, and eight touchdowns per season when partnered with Allen.
Allen, on the other hand, has thrown for 4,283 yards and 29 or more touchdowns in every season he has had Diggs, going 48-18 as the Bills’ starter with Diggs and 15-12 without him. Allen also placed in the top five in MVP voting three of Diggs’ four seasons with the Bills.
“They’ve been a really good duo,” Beane explained. “I don’t think Stef was All-Pro before he came here, and he won several Pro Bowls during his career. Josh also increased his level of intensity. So I believe that when they were clicking, whether in games or seasons, they were on par with most quarterback-receiver combinations.”
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