What Stefon Diggs means for C.J. Stroud and why the Texans went all-in

Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

At his best, Stefon Diggs could give the Texans a weapon that makes their explosive pass game even more potent. He could shore up the deficiencies of their offense overall. On paper, he makes Houston one of the AFC’s elite teams.

If he’s at his best.

That’s the big question, not only because of his age (he turns 31 in November) but also because of the stakes tied to his arrival in Houston. The Texans reportedly wiped out the final three years of Diggs’ contract after acquiring him in last week’s blockbuster trade, making him an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season.

The team also took the $3.5 million guaranteed to the veteran wide receiver in 2025 and moved it into 2024, assuring him of $22.5 million in guaranteed money. The Texans gave up a 2025 second-round pick to get Diggs, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-rounder from Buffalo.

In a vacuum, Houston gave up a premium pick for one year of an aging Diggs. And because they voided the final three seasons of Diggs’ contract, the Texans won’t be eligible to receive a compensatory pick if he leaves after the season.

It’s a big risk, but one that falls in line with what the Texans have done this offseason.

They’ve been aggressively constructing their roster around quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose rookie contract affords the team financial flexibility. In addition to Diggs, here are Houston’s other high-profile pickups this offseason: Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter (two years, $49 million), defensive lineman Denico Autry (two years, $20 million), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (three years, $34 million), and running back Joe Mixon via trade (three years, $27 million).

It’s clear that the Texans feel that with Diggs, they have a team that can contend for a Super Bowl. That’s the most reasonable justification of an arrangement that seems to most benefit Diggs.

Considering that he’ll have the opportunity to prove Buffalo wrong…


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Publish date : 2024-04-09 16:44:16

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