Four Key Questions Surrounding Stefon Diggs and the Houston Texans.
The Houston Texans made a significant move by trading for the dynamic former Bills receiver, Stefon Diggs. However, they then made alterations to his contract, leading to questions about their motives and the type of player they’re acquiring.
It’s evident why the Texans pursued Stefon Diggs. Their aggressive offseason spending, totaling $142 million in fully guaranteed contracts, signals their commitment to surrounding their talented young quarterback, C.J. Stroud, with top-tier talent. With Stroud under a cost-controlled rookie contract for the next four years, the Texans recognize the importance of investing in their roster now.
Trading a 2025 second-round pick for Diggs further underscores the Texans’ win-now mentality. Despite their surprise AFC South victory last season, they’re actively bolstering their receiving corps with a consistent playmaker like Diggs, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in six consecutive seasons. Houston’s best-case scenario involves Diggs showcasing his elite talent, accelerating Stroud’s development, and propelling the team deep into the playoffs.
Added incentive for Stefon Diggs: As part of the Buffalo-Houston trade, the Texans wiped out the final three years on Diggs’ contract, giving him the ability to become a free agent after this season, league sources tell ESPN. The Texans also took the $3.5 million guaranteed to… pic.twitter.com/3CdRZY0LhK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2024
However, the rationale behind the Texans’ decision to trade for Diggs and then void the final three years of his contract remains unclear. This move raises several questions about what initially seemed like a reasonable trade for both parties but now appears perplexing for the Texans.
Why did the Houston Texans trade a probable top-50 draft pick for just one year of Diggs’s services? General manager Nick Caserio has displayed a willingness to engage in the trade market, as demonstrated by previous deals. However, the decision to trade valuable draft capital for a short-term agreement with Diggs raises eyebrows.
Initially, Diggs’s contract with Buffalo seemed team-friendly, with no guaranteed money beyond the upcoming season. However, it was later revealed that his contract included a significant pay raise in 2024, making him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league. Additionally, Diggs is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, adding further complexity to the situation.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73258205/DiggsTexans_Getty_Ringer.0.jpg)
The Texans’ perspective may be that Diggs now has “added incentive” to perform at his best, given his contract situation. However, questions linger about whether Diggs’s late-season drop-off in production is a cause for concern. Despite a strong start to the 2023 season, Diggs’s performance declined significantly in the latter half of the year, prompting speculation about the reasons behind this downturn.
The trade for Stefon Diggs presents the Houston Texans with both potential rewards and risks. As they navigate these uncertainties, they’ll need to carefully consider the implications of their decision and how it impacts their pursuit of success in the upcoming season.
Leave a Reply