By Dianna Russini, Zack Rosenblatt and Joe Buscaglia
The Houston Texans have a star quarterback on his rookie contract and so they’re not wasting any time surrounding him with elite talent. General manager Nick Caserio has gone big-game fishing all offseason — and he landed one of the biggest offensive fish in the league: The Texans are trading for Buffalo Bills star Stefon Diggs, a league source confirmed, giving quarterback C.J. Stroud a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver and adding to a position group that was already loaded with young talent.
In return, the Bills receive a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings). The Texans also receive a 2024 fifth-round pick and sixth-round pick.
The Texans were the surprise of the NFL last season, going 10-7 and winning a playoff game with a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach in DeMeco Ryans. The Diggs trade — coupled with some other offseason upgrades — could put the Texans in position to become a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC.
In free agency, Caserio attempted to sign running back Saquon Barkley before he eventually landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, so Caserio pivoted to veteran Joe Mixon. He also loaded up on defense in signing defensive end Danielle Hunter, defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi, defensive end Denico Autry, cornerback C.J. Henderson and linebacker Azeez Al-Shahir. But Caserio saved his biggest splash for the offensive side of the ball in reeling in Diggs.
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The 30-year-old has put together six straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards and has at least eight touchdowns in all but one of the last seven seasons. Diggs has expressed some unhappiness with his usage in Buffalo in recent seasons though the Bills had insisted they wouldn’t be moving on from him. This offseason, the Bills have parted ways with a number of key players to clear cap.
The Texans jumped at the opportunity to add Diggs to a wide receiver room that already includes Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Collins finished 2023 with 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns and Dell was off to a fast start as a rookie (47 catches, 709 yards, seven touchdowns) before suffering a fractured fibula in Week 13 that ended his season.
Diggs is under contract through 2027 and will carry an $18.5 million cap hit for Houston in 2024.
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(Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
