Bills shut Super Bowl window following blockbuster trade

There was a lot hypothesis that four-time Professional Bowl extensive receiver Stefon Diggs was sad in Buffalo. The Payments proved that to be true on Wednesday, buying and selling the previous All-Professional to a different AFC contender.

In accordance with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Buffalo is buying and selling Diggs, a 2024 sixth-round choose and a 2025 fifth-round choose, to Houston for a 2025 second-round choose.

The deal immediately makes the Texans a Tremendous Bowl contender, giving 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr C.J. Stroud a receiving corps of Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell whereas all of it however shuts Buffalo’s window.

The Payments have by no means been in a position to recover from the hump, particularly as of late, shedding within the divisional spherical of the playoffs the final three straight seasons. This commerce now forces the staff to enter a little bit of a reset.

Buffalo will nonetheless be aggressive with Josh Allen at quarterback, however he does not have practically as a lot to work with after shedding extensive receiver Gabe Davis (Jaguars) in free company and now Diggs. 

Curtis Samuel, who simply joined the staff from Washington this offseason, Khalil Shakir, a fifth-round choose in 2022, and 30-year-old Mack Hollins now spotlight the Payments’ extensive receiver room. Buffalo additionally has tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, however with no true No. 1, the staff is left looking for solutions.

The Payments may discover one in every of their solutions within the 2024 NFL Draft, which is wealthy with extensive receiver expertise. Nonetheless, Buffalo is probably going out of attain from the highest prospects because it is not scheduled to make its first choice till choose No. 28, barring a trade-up.

The remaining extensive receivers on the open market aren’t ideally suited, however it would not harm the staff so as to add to its skinny room. The highest free brokers embody former Raven Odell Beckham Jr., former Bengal Tyler Boyd and former Saint Michael Thomas.

Diggs joins the rising listing of key gamers to go away the Payments this offseason, together with middle Mitch Morse, linebacker Leonard Floyd, cornerback Tre’Davious White and security Jordan Poyer.

Now, Buffalo is left to consider what may have been because the franchise continues to seek for a recipe for its first Tremendous Bowl championship, with loads of work forward.