With the announcement that Stephon Diggs is officially being traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans for a second-round pick, the question now becomes, what now? Diggs, considered one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, will certainly leave a void for the Bills and an opportunity for the rest of the AFC following the trade.
There was much speculation that Stephon Diggs and the Bills weren’t on great terms, but fans still hoped that the receiver and the team would be able to find a compromise and make it through at least one more season, hoping to finally reach a Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.
Buffalo Bills Will Need to Find a Top Receiver
When a receiver with 1,183 receiving yards suddenly disappears, regardless of who is brought in, there will be an impact, and likely not a good one. Stephon Diggs and Josh Allen were a one-two punch in the passing game, where Diggs was often a “get out of jail” card for Allen. In fact, last season, nearly 50% of all the wide receiving yards (not to TEs or RBs) were to Diggs.
Finding a new receiver is much easier said than done. In the NFL there are only a handful of top-tier receiving talented receivers at a time, and most of those are already locked into very expensive and extensive contracts. Also, the Bills aren’t exactly the most desired location or team for a veteran player who is getting to choose where they want to play.
Obviously, the Bills will be doing all they can to get the best WR they can, but their best bet may be to use the NFL Draft and find a diamond in the rough kind of player, similar to how the Rams lucked out with their 5th round draft pick Puka Nauca.
AFC East Becomes Wide Open
At the end of last year’s season, the Buffalo Bills figured out how to win consistently. Following a 6-6 start, the Bills finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak, ultimately winning the division. Stephon Diggs’s play was a big part of Bill’s success. Without Diggs now, the chances of the Bills winning their fifth AFC East in a row are much lower.
Before the trade, the Bills were at +130 to win the AFC East, with the Dolphins at +180 and the Jets at +300. Following the trade, the odds are at the Bills at +160, the Dolphins at +170, and the Jets at +240. If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy this next year, the division seems to be wide open between the three teams.
As time goes on and more trades are made along with the 2024 NFL Draft, these odds will continue to fluctuate, but what is clear is that no matter what happens, with Diggs no longer with the Bills, every other team is celebrating today.
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. pic.twitter.com/5tIJGkve6t
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2024
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