Stefon Diggs has made it quite clear over the past year that he wants to be traded out of Minnesota, and on Monday, he got his wish.
Diggs was traded by the Minnesota Vikings to the Buffalo Bills for a boatload of draft picks. Minnesota received a first, fifth and sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, as well as a fourth-rounder in 2021, in exchange for Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round pick.
It was quite shocking, as the Texans had traded DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick for David Johnson, a fourth-round pick, and a second-rounder to the Cardinals just a few hours beforehand. Nearly everyone you ask would rate Hopkins higher than Diggs, in analysis sites such as thaipokerleak, as he’s nearly a half-foot taller, and is a true No. 1 receiver who can not only stretch the field, but also make plays in the red zone. Diggs is a big-play threat who can beat teams vertically, but he also has character issues, having complained about playing for the Vikings both in speaking to the media, and on his social feeds. And eventually, he just became too big of a distraction, so the Vikings traded him away.
Dec 23, 2019; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) take the field prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
And now the team is looking like geniuses for doing so, given the haul they got in return. In looking at the value of receivers, and how there are three receivers entering the draft that could all get taken in the top 15, the Bills clearly paid way too much.
To their credit, the Bills do clearly hav a ton in place that we’ll look to discuss going forward. First off, they have a young quarterback with one of the strongest arms in the NFL, so they’re looking to surround him with speedy, talented receivers that can stretch the field vertically and add the home-run threat on each and every play. Their wide receiver corps in 11 personnel is certainly one to be reckoned with, as it will now be Diggs and John Brown on the outside, with Cole Beasley operating as a possession receiver to move the chains in the slot.
Dec 8, 2019; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) defends during the fourth quarter at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
The Bills are also picking the right time to enter win-now mode, as defensive mastermind/head coach Sean McDermott has built a stout defense, and the Patriots finally on the decline, after having dominated the AFC East for the past two decades. Tom Brady may be gone in the future, and if not, the team has shown they can get pressure on the 42-year-old quarterback to rattle him. He’s not the same dominant force he once was, and the division title is up for grabs, with the Jets still rebuilding, and the Dolphins making steps in the right direction, but still a question mark.
Buffalo, as well as New England, made the playoffs last season, but unlike the Patriots, they’ve gotten younger, and are well-positioned to make a run in the next year or two. However, they gave up way too much in this trade, and leveraged their future for a wide receiver, which is not a wise move.