ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are trading their top receiving threat, Stefon Diggs, to the Houston Texans in a deal that was agreed to on Wednesday.
In announcing the trade, the Bills acquired the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2025 draft, which Houston acquired in a trade with Minnesota. Houston also acquired Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, and a fifth-rounder in 2025.
Diggs’ departure from Buffalo leaves quarterback Josh Allen without his favorite target, and breaks up a tandem that has re-written the team’s passing records since the receiver’s arrival in a trade with Minnesota in March 2020. Together they transformed a Bills offense into becoming one of the NFL’s most potent, while helping Buffalo win four straight AFC East titles.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane declined to get in depth behind the reasons for making the trade while saying the decision to do so was difficult and done after he consulted with team owner Terry Pegula. He acknowledged the trade doesn’t make the Bills better today, but does provide future benefits by freeing Diggs’ salary from the team’s payroll after this season.
“This is by no means the Bills given up or trying to take a step back or anything like that,” Beane said in thanking Diggs for what he brought to Buffalo. “Everything we do, we’re trying to win. And we’re going to continue to do that. It’s April the 3rd or 4th, whatever it is, and, we’ll continue to work on this roster and make sure we’re ready to play come September.”
Beane’s most often-repeated phrase was regarding this as “the best decision for the Bills moving forward.”
For the Texans, Diggs gives the offense another playmaker to team with Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Collins led Houston with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns last season. The Texans went worst to first in the AFC South under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.
Houston has also traded for running back Joe Mixon, along with a host of improvements on defense.
After the deal, the Texans were 15-1 to win the Super Bowl next season on FanDuel Sportsbook.
The 30-year-old Diggs has nine years of NFL experience and topped 1,000 yards in each of his past six seasons. In his first season in Buffalo, he became the Bills’ first player to lead the league in both yards receiving (1,535) and catches (127).
The team also lost No. 2 receiver Gabriel Davis to free agency.
Minus Diggs, the Bills are now expected to target a receiver high in this month’s draft. Buffalo opens with the 28th pick.