Stefon Diggs opens up on shocking trade from Bills to Texans
Stefon Diggs has a new home. After months of rumors about him being disgruntled with the Buffalo Bills, the star wide receiver was rumored to be on the trade block. The rumor eventually became true, as he was dealt to the Houston Texans that same offseason. Now, Diggs will be paired up with an up-and-coming QB in CJ Stroud as he looks to win his first ring.
A few months after the trade, Stefon Diggs finally spoke about the trade that sent him to the Houston Texans. The star wide receiver called the trade a “breath of fresh air”, per DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN. Here’s his full quote on the topic.
“They’re very welcoming,” Diggs said. “Very open arms, and I just feel like it’s important for me to be a part of things like that. It’s genuine. You thrive in that space. You thrive in a space where you’re loved. Thrive in a space of being around those who truly care and truly want to see you win.”
Stroud also talked about the Diggs deal. The Texans quarterback noted that Diggs has taken a leadership role with the team from the moment he was traded. Stroud also said that he feels like the star wide receiver appreciates being around other “dogs” like him.
“Diggs has come in and been a leader, which I’m proud of him for, just really has been unselfish and wanted to see other guys eat,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “That was his main thing. He wanted to be around other dogs, and he stepped into that role where there is a dog everywhere. He looks right, he looks left, there is going to be a dog. He wanted that and that’s what we bring to the table. He’s been nothing but amazing so far, and I am very excited to work with him.”
Will Stroud-Diggs partnership work for Texans?
The blueprint for a quarterback to be successful in the NFL this season is to pair him with an elite wide receiver. The Bills brought in Diggs from the Vikings for that very reason, and it worked out for them. You can see it in the rest of the league as well: every contending team has an elite QB-WR duo. The Texans already had an elite core around Stroud, but Diggs, in theory, takes them to that next level.
Compared to other teams that followed this trend, Stroud is much better than Allen or Jalen Hurts when their teams traded for Diggs and AJ Brown, respectively. Allen and Hurts struggled prior to the trade with major flaws that severely hampered them. On the other hand, Stroud had an excellent rookie year that earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Texans star was even in MVP discussions at one point.
What works on paper doesn’t always translate to the field. Despite their combined skills, the Texans’ new star duo will need to figure out an approach that works for them both. There’s also the matter of Houston’s other stars potentially getting less touches. It’s a bit of a problem, but it’s a good problem that Houston would much rather have. We’ll see just how good this new superteam will be in the 2024 season.
