C.J. Stroud has a new No. 1 weapon.
The Houston Texans have finalized a deal to land Buffalo Bills All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick. The Bills are also expected to take on $31 million of the cap hit against the 30-year-old receiver.
Houston made it clear this offseason that it was building toward contention behind its Offensive Rookie of the Year. The franchise upgraded its ground game by trading a seventh-round pick for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon, then signing him to a three-year extension worth $27 million.
The Texans also brought back tight end Dalton Schultz on a three-year, $36 million deal after serving a security blanket for Stroud across the middle. Add on a breakout season from Nico Collins, plus an emerging No. 3 option in Tank Dell, and Houston seems hell-bent on being not just the face of the AFC South, but rather the conference in general.
Diggs, who inked a four-year, $104 million contract extension in April 2022, is coming off his fourth consecutive 1,110-yard campaign with the Bills. He also made the playoffs all four seasons during his time as the No. 1 target for Josh Allen.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio was interested in bringing in a veteran wide receiver this offseason, going as far as inquiring about Los Angeles Chargers Pro Bowler Kennan Allen. In the end, he gets a younger pass-catcher who should serve as a complementary piece opposite Collins, Dell, and Schultz.
As far as Texans’ Twitter goes, fans were ready to run through a wall — or NRG Stadium — knowing the status of the franchise following three consecutive losing seasons.