Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bills’ head coach, knows that Stefon Diggs will not be replaced next season.
In a stunning trade, the Bills sent Diggs to the Houston Texans, losing their No. 1 wide receiver and a key component of the team’s ascension to Super Bowl contention. Speaking to media about the move on April 18, McDermott underlined that the team will never be able to fully replace what they lost, and that filling the vacuum will require the collaborative efforts of many players.
“It’s hard, right? “Stef’s an excellent player,” McDermott added. “We really liked our time together. Won a lot of games. He played a major role in winning those games. We will miss him. You can never replace a player like Stef Diggs. We wish Stef and his family well. It’s difficult to let go of a talent like that, and now we’re looking at our roster and excited about the opportunities for individuals to rise up in that room.”
Bills Faced ‘Tough Decisions’.
McDermott admitted that dealing Diggs was a painful reality for a team with a major salary cap deficit. Around a month before shipping Diggs, the Bills made a series of roster moves to free up salary space, releasing veterans Mitch Morse and Jordan Poyer and restructuring Von Miller’s deal.
“Those are tough decisions,” he remarked. “You never replace people or players like that. No two players or individuals are the same. However, it provides an opportunity for people to take on new responsibilities.”
According to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News, dealing Diggs added $3.24 million to the salary limit, but the team will gain even more next season.
“The biggest salary cap upside is Diggs won’t count anything toward the Bills’ 2025 cap,” Gaughan said in a statement. “If Diggs had been on the roster in 2025, he would have earned $27.3 million.” As a result, the Bills have significantly improved their cap situation for 2025.”
McDermott stated that there were some internal talks before dealing Diggs. When asked if quarterback Josh Allen was involved in those discussions, McDermott indicated there was “collaboration” but did not specify what role Allen may have played in the process.
“You always have conversations, sometimes multiple conversations and you communicate multiple times and you collaborate,” stated the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. “We did not take this decision lightly. Just trying to do what’s best for the squad in the short and long term.”
Bills Expected to Add Receiver in NFL Draft
Many analysts believe the Bills will begin work on replacing Diggs in the NFL selection, with some predicting a significant rise up the selection board.
In an April 16 mock draft, Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press predicted that the Bills will trade up to the fourth pick to get Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., the top-rated receiver.
Maaddi agreed that the Bills may be feeling some pressure after dumping Diggs and might begin by picking Harrison.
“Harrison, the son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, was the best WR on the field last season,” Maaddi said in a statement. “His stock has dropped slightly because he skipped offseason training, but his tape is sufficient. The Bills are under pressure to win the Super Bowl and require a No. 1 wideout after dealing Stefon Diggs.”
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