HOUSTON — The Houston Texans added a big target for quarterback C.J. Stroud via trade this offseason.
The team announced a trade with the Buffalo Bills for four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Reportedly, Buffalo will receive draft-pick compensation in return although the Texans haven't revealed which picks are included.
According to NFL inside Ian Rapoport, the compensation will be a second-round draft pick in 2025, via the Minnesota Vikings. Buffalo is said to be also giving Houston a fifth-round selection in 2025 and a sixth-round selection this year along with Diggs.
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.
Also this offseason, Houston traded for running back Joe Mixon and 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).
Diggs’ production began slipping in the second half of last season, which coincided with Buffalo firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and promoting Joe Brady, who placed a renewed emphasis on the running attack. Diggs finished the season with 107 catches and 1,183 yards — both lows during his tenure with the Bills — and eight touchdowns.
He finished his time in Buffalo with 445 catches for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns to rank fourth on the team list. Diggs holds the top four spots on the franchise list for single-season receptions and the top two spots for yards receiving.
Overall, he has 1,178 catches for 9,995 yards and 67 touchdowns since being selected by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of Maryland.
This upcoming season, the Texans are scheduled to head to Arlington to face the Cowboys where Diggs will have the chance to play against his brother, Trevon, who is a star cornerback for Dallas.
Reaction to Texans trading for Stefon Diggs
Here is what the Texans official account posted this morning.
Here is a look at what Diggs will look like in a Texans uniform.
Former Texans star and current CBS NFL studio analyst J.J. Watt had this to say about the trade.
“The last two off-seasons for the Texans have completely transformed the franchise. DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud, Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, etc. Houston is a top-tier destination. 🤘🏼,” Watt posted on X, formally known as Twitter.
Texans QB Case Keenum had this reaction to being reunited again with a former teammate:
Here was Rapoport's breakdown of the trade:
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III declared that the Texans had already "won the trade" and that this is what "all in" looks like.
However, days before the deal was announced, Griffin was asked if Diggs was essential to Buffalo QB Josh Allen's success. While one response said he was not essential, Diggs himself responded in the thread, "You sure?"