For over a year, the Buffalo Bills have faced trade rumors around wide receiver Stefon Diggs, beginning with the wide out’s rocky conclusion to the 2022 season and months of mysterious social media messages.
According to one rumor, the upcoming offseason could be the ideal time for the Bills to take the trigger and trade Diggs in order to provide bigger responsibilities to a pair of rising talents. According to Connor Livesay of The 33rd Team, if the Bills miss the playoffs this year, they may consider trading Diggs.
Timing Right for a Trade?
Livesay mentioned that due to the promising progress of rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid and second-year wide receiver Khalil Shakir, the Bills might be more inclined to explore the possibility of trading Stefon Diggs. Kincaid has recorded 61 receptions for 495 yards and two touchdowns this season, while Shakir has amassed 26 receptions for 422 yards and two touchdowns.
“While Diggs remains among the NFL’s most skilled wide receivers, the Bills’ current record stands at 6-6, placing them outside the playoff picture,” Livesay commented on December 8, before the Bills’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, which brought their record to 7-6. “If their position doesn’t improve, we might witness significant changes to the Buffalo team in 2024.”
Livesay also noted that any potential trade involving Diggs would necessitate a willing partner ready to take on the financial commitment of the All-Pro wide receiver’s substantial contract.
“Diggs is only two years into his five-year, $96-million contract extension signed in 2022. Therefore, any team acquiring Diggs would surrender draft assets and assume a relatively hefty contract,” Livesay explained.
Additionally, the Bills could face the loss of another key component in their receiving lineup, as the second receiver, Gabe Davis, nears the end of his rookie contract. With financial constraints impacting the Bills’ salary cap, tough decisions loom regarding which free agents they can afford to retain.
"Stefon Diggs never asked to be traded and it was truly never an issue..
We just needed to get in a room and talk about how last season finished and get on the same page" ~ Brandon Beane #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/8aPKruDWCm
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 1, 2023
Bills Have Shot Down Trade Rumors
Despite various speculations triggered by Diggs’ social media posts last offseason, which hinted at potential dissatisfaction and culminated in him being sent home during the team’s mandatory minicamp, the receiver has consistently stated that there are no underlying issues and he has no intentions of leaving the team.
This standpoint has been echoed by the Bills’ front office. General manager Brandon Beane, speaking on the Pat McAfee Show on August 1, emphasized that the team never contemplated trading Diggs, and no other teams made inquiries about his availability.
“No, there were no calls about Diggs. I think people understand that he belongs to us,” Beane remarked. “Even if there were any issues, and he never requested a trade, that scenario never arose.”
Beane stated that certain issues between the coaching staff and Diggs needed to be worked out following the team’s season-ending loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round of the playoffs. The work was done when Diggs returned to minicamp in June, according to the Bills general manager.
“It truly was never an issue, it was just more us getting in a room and talking through how last season finished and getting on the same page,” Beane told reporters.
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