The Buffalo Bills are still reeling from their 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, a defeat that ended their season in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. The Bills have been among the NFL‘s best teams over the past four years — a period that coincided with their trade for star wide receiver Stefon Diggs — but they have yet to find a way past Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs into the Super Bowl.
Buffalo‘s salary cap situation is also about to become much messier, and talk has ramped up that Diggs could be moved to another team in response. However, the Bills do not seem to be considering that as a possibility, if one of their top executives is to be believed.
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Diggs will stay…
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Bills general manager Brandon Beane stood by Diggs and insisted that the three-time Pro Bowl selection remains Buffalo’s #1 receiver — despite rumors of discontent. And Diggs himself is not expected to push for a trade, especially as long as the Bills’ Super Bowl window remains open.
“He’s a No. 1 receiver. I firmly believe that. I’m not wavering off of that,” Beane said. “We have to continue to put weapons out there to keep teams from bracketing him or locking him down in different ways to take him away.”
Diggs is under contract with Buffalo through the 2027 season, and he remains quarterback Josh Allen‘s favorite target. He has made at least 100 receptions in each of his four seasons in Buffalo and has been named a first-team All-Pro once — although his playoff performances have brought him under intensifying scrutiny.
…but Diggs will have to improve in 2024
Diggs’ 2023 season fell below his usual standard. For the first time since 2020, Diggs failed to find the end zone 10 times during the regular season. His 1,183 receiving yards were his lowest total since joining the Bills from the Minnesota Vikings. And he dropped a vital pass from Allen in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s divisional round loss.
The drop in a key moment demonstrated how much momentum Diggs lost in the Buffalo offense as the season moved along — and how much momentum second-year wideout Khalil Shakir gained instead. Shakir, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, hauled in touchdowns against both of Buffalo’s playoff opponents as his role expanded, with even-greater responsibility likely for 2024.
Still, Beane understands how much Diggs has to offer the Bills. The franchise is desperate to win its first-ever Super Bowl, and a star wide receiver is an integral part of any championship contender.
“Stef can still play. I’m sure he would love to have that deep ball again,” Beane said. “He’d be the first to tell you. He’s super competitive. He’s going to work his tail off this offseason.”
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