In his first interview since being traded from Buffalo Bills to Houston Texans, Stefon Diggs took the high road.
Diggs showed gratitude for his career with the Bills, where he caught 445 passes for 5.372 yards and 37 touchdowns to become a perennial Pro Bowler. He recognized Josh Allen for his efforts in their partnership. And eventually, explained where everything went wrong.
“He was an intricate piece of my career,” Diggs said Tuesday of Allen, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback of the Bills. “At that point, when I left Minnesota, I was a good player. But I always felt more for myself. I felt like I was better than that — that I could be better than that. And kind of up to that point, I was just like ‘S—. I’m going to roll the dice and bet on myself.’
“When I got to Buffalo, Josh was and still is my guy. People don’t really understand what it’s like to be out there. He really embraced me. He kind of had that southern hospitality. We spent a lot of time together and I probably wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for him. I got a lot of love for that boy, so y’all give him a hug and a kiss for me.”
Diggs bloomed in Buffalo, where in four seasons he passed his totals recorded in five years in Minnesota. But his leaving was foreseen. He showed his disappointment and frustration with the Bills’ constant failures to finish deep playoff runs with Super Bowl matches. During a compulsory minicamp in 2023, a short absence caused an internal problem that forced Allen to respond for his teammate.
Still, the production justified the shenanigans and the $104 million due to Diggs for four years. When this was no longer feasible, like when Joe Brady replaced Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator during the 2023 campaign and Diggs usage dropped drastically, the time came to trade him.
He said he felt in 2023 a parting would happen at some point.
“We had some ups and downs especially after the first eight (games). We got a coaching shift and different things going different ways, different schemes,” Diggs said. “You know the ups and downs of it. But for me, you kind of felt it in the air a little bit. When I got traded, I was happy. I was in a good place. Like I said, I told God to light my path and here I am. So, he makes no mistakes.”
The Texans did not only take Diggs through trade, but also concluded the move by tearing up his existing contract. They signed him to a new one-year deal that gave him a chance to earn another payday in 2025, should he prove his worth in 2024.
“What I’ve seen is a guy who I thought we would get,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said of Diggs on Tuesday. “A guy who’s made plays and every time we’ve thrown him the ball, he’s come down with it. Sure-handed guy. A really good teammate, a great energy around the building and in a locker room with the guys. So I’m excited to continue to see his growth.”
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud set the NFL on fire in his rookie season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide. He even got some outside votes for NFL Most Valuable Player.
If Stroud begins 2024 by picking up where he left off last season, the new partnership will produce large numbers for both parties.
“He has been fitting in great. He came in with his head down and just working,” Stroud said of Diggs. “He’s helping me out a lot. … He’s come in and been a leader, which I’m proud of him for. He has really been unselfish and wanted to see other guys eat. That was his main thing — he wanted to be around other dogs. He stepped into that role where there’s a dog everywhere. He wanted that and that’s what we bring to the table.”
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