Once everyone was focused on the 2024 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills shocked the world by trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. To the outside world, the move came out of nowhere, but the Bills had been working on trading Diggs behind the scenes for several weeks.
Not only was the trade return a bit of a surprise, with the Bills only receiving a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for their leading receiver, seeing Diggs land with another AFC playoff contender may have been even more eye-opening.
The Texans landing Diggs may have made them legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but to the Bills, sending Diggs to Houston was a far better destination than another rival.
According to Chris Simms of NBC Sports, the Bills granted Diggs permission to seek a trade to any team he wanted, except for the Chiefs.
“From what I do know, right, is that he was allowed to seek a trade from anybody in the league, except the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s what I’ve been told by multiple people.”
NFL insider Chris Simms on Buffalo Bills blocking Stefon Diggs trade to Kansas City Chiefs
It’s comical that the Bills were so concerned about Diggs leaving Buffalo and landing in Kansas City where he would have undoubtedly had strong odds to win his first Super Bowl. Naturally, had Diggs been able to hoist a Lombardi Trophy, the Bills would have faced an endless amount of criticism, wondering why Buffalo wasn’t able to build a Super Bowl contender with the Pro Bowl wideout on the roster.
It’s also interesting that they were willing to send him to Houston, who already took a massive leap last season, becoming a playoff contender in C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans’ first season together on the Texans. The Bills weren’t able to get a stronger offer from an NFC team? As others have suggested, it’s possible the Bills were just thrilled to strip Diggs off their roster, moving on from a player known for sideline blowups and interesting tweets.
Yet, with Diggs only under contract in Houston for one season, now he’ll have the chance to team up with Patrick Mahomes in 2025 after reaching free agency. If the interest is mutual, we could see Diggs get what he may have long been pining for in Buffalo, the chance to team up with the best QB in the NFL.
Related: Buffalo Bills mock draft 2024: Replenishing talent around Josh Allen after Stefon Diggs trade