Wide receiver Stafon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills looks on in the American Football Conference Divisional Round Game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, January 22, 2023. /CFP
The Houston Texans altered the contract of their newly-arrived wide receiver Stefon Diggs by wiping out its final three years, according to ESPN on Thursday. That means after he finishes the 2024 National Football League (NFL) season, he will become a free agent.
It cost the Texans a 2025 NFL Draft second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings) to trade for Diggs along with a 2024 sixth-rounder and a 2025 fifth-rounder from the Buffalo Bills. He was still on a four-year, $104 million contract when he joined the new team. The Texan assured him the $22.5 million guaranteed money for the 2024 campaign and added the $3.5 million guaranteed money for the 2025 campaign to this season.
As another cost of sending Diggs away, the Bills will look at $31.096 million of dead money, the highest ever for a wide receiver, according to ESPN, on their payroll for the 2024 season.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs (#14) of the Buffalo Bills catches the ball to score a touchdown in the game against the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, September 19, 2022. /CFP
As a four-time Pro Bowler, Diggs posted over 1,000 receiving yards in all of the past six seasons. He was the NFL double-leader in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2020, when he was selected into the First-team All-Pro. In 2022, he was in the Second-team All-Pro.
However, Diggs' performance took a sudden unfavorable turn last season. After the first six games, he didn't reach 100 receiving yards in any appearance and caught only three touchdowns, none of which happened in the Bills' final seven games, including the postseason.
Having turned 30 in late November 2023, Diggs will be well-motivated to earn probably the final juicy deal of his career, if he delivers an epic performance in the 2024 campaign. If he can repeat his work in 2020 or 2022, the Texans should be willing to make his salary match that of Tyreek Hill or Davante Adams. If Diggs continues to struggle, the team will be in a favorable position to call for an extension - or to cut their losses.