Getty Image / Ryan Kang
The Houston Texans made a huge splash on Wednesday when they traded for star Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. While sometimes volatile, there’s no doubt that he’s been a productive wide receiver for a long time.
But, Stefon Diggs will turn 31 during the season next year, and he was not good down the stretch last year. The Texans know they need to motivate him if they want him to play at the All-Pro level he’s played at before.
What’s the best way to motivate a professional athlete? Money. The Texans have done just that, shortening Diggs’ contract, piling all his guaranteed money into next season and making him a free agent after next season.
“Added incentive for Stefon Diggs: As part of the Buffalo-Houston trade, the Texans wiped out the final three years on Diggs’ contract, giving him the ability to become a free agent after this season, league sources tell ESPN. The Texans also took the $3.5 million guaranteed to Diggs next season and moved up into this season, giving him a raise and assuring him of $22.52 million in guaranteed money in 2024. But if Diggs plays the way he wants, and Houston hopes, he will hit the free-agent market next offseason with the ability to make it count. Houston now anticipates getting the best version of Stefon Diggs,” Adam Schefter said on Twitter.
While they did give up a second-round pick in next year’s draft originally owned by the Minnesota Vikings, I still like this move for the Houston Texans. Diggs has the most catches and fourth-most yards in the league since the start of the 2020 season. Even in a down year last year when he may have been battling injuries, he still had 107 catches for 1,183 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Plus, with CJ Stroud already establishing himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league as a rookie last year, it’s time to take advantage of his low salary and make a run at a Super Bowl. The money they are going to spend on Diggs is the money they’re saving on Stroud instead of having a high-priced veteran quarterback. Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Nico Collins, John Metchie, and Noah Brown will make up one of the league’s best groups at wide receiver.
The Texans already won the AFC South and a playoff game in Stroud’s rookie year, and a motivated Stefon Diggs could help them get even further.