For Bills general manager Brandon Beane, the decision to trade star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Texans on Wednesday came down to “timing.”
“The last couple days, the value seemed to make sense and the timing made sense for them and for us,” Beane said Wednesday, according to the Bills’ official website.
“And we worked on the deal and got it finalized today.”
The Bills received a 2025 second-rounder from the Texans in exchange for Diggs — who is just two years removed from signing a four-year, $96 million contract extension with Buffalo.
Despite the Bills moving on from one of their key offensive weapons, Beane, who has served as the Bills’ GM since 2017, stated this decision doesn’t equate to the team surrendering ahead of the 2024 season.
“Anytime you make a move like this, as I said, very difficult, you’re trying to win,” he said. “And sometimes people may not see that. This is by no means the Bills giving up or trying to take a step back or anything like that. Everything we do, we’re trying to win.”
Beane previously cut safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White last month as part of salary cap casualties and lost No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis in free agency to the Jaguars.
Beane spoke candidly about the state of the roster and added there’s plenty of work to be done before Week 1.
“I mean, are we better today? Probably not. It’s a work in progress, and we’re going to continue to work on that. I would just hope that people know I’m competitive as hell, and I ain’t giving in,” he said.
The Bills finished the regular season at 11-6 and reached the playoffs, only to be ousted once again in the divisional round by the eventual champion Chiefs.
In the weeks after the game, Diggs — who arrived in Buffalo in 2020 following a trade with the Vikings, with whom he had a very public breakup — told reporters in February he was taking his future “day by day.”
“Obviously, there’s a lot of changes going on, a lot of things going on. I can’t really put the carriage before the horse, you know what I’m saying? But I got a great offseason in front of me to put a lot of work in and kind of build around what we got and what we’re doing,” the four-time Pro Bowler said, according to ESPN.
“I can’t tell you what the future holds, but I’m still being me.”
Speculation of discord in Buffalo began to percolate in early 2023 when the Bills were eliminated from the postseason by the Bengals in a divisional-round loss.
At the time, Diggs was seen having an animated exchange with quarterback Josh Allen on the sideline, with reports circulating afterward that he left the locker room swiftly after the contest.
Months later, Diggs missed the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp in June, with a Boston Globe report alleging shortly afterward he was unhappy.
As the Bills entered training camp in July, Diggs said, “It’s all water under the bridge.”
Diggs, who finished the 2023 season with 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns, thanked Buffalo in an emotional message on Wednesday night.
“I can’t begin to express the amount of love and respect I have for the city of Buffalo,” Diggs said on Instagram.
“Four of the best years of my life, the city welcomed me with open arms. I’m forever grateful for you all and the [Buffalo Bills] organization! Something special was built over these years with some very special men, that will always have a place in my heart.
“Billsmafia, so many great memories created throughout the years. Those games were crazy because of you. Sadly good things come to an end until we meet again.”
They will meet again as the Bills will visit the Texans during the 2024 season.
