HOUSTON – Former Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs ran a fly pattern in free agency Tuesday, reaching the end zone with a new contract.
Diggs joined the New England Patriots on a three-year, $69 million contract that includes $26 million guaranteed.
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Stefon Diggs tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against the Indianapolis Colts and is making a speedy recovery. He is already running routes, albeit not at full speed yet.
The value Diggs displayed as a team captain and a reliable pass-catching threat were sorely missed by the Texans when he hurt his knee.
Although the Texans said the door was open for Diggs’ return and he was well-liked in the locker room, his injury and age were ultimately factors against extending their business relationship, Instead, Diggs heads back to the AFC East one year after being acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills. The Texans’ top two wide receivers are Pro Bowl selection Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, who was acquired in a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Texans were 5-1 when Diggs, Collins and Tank Dell were in the lineup together. That was before Collins pulled his hamstring while catching a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills and missed the next five games. In December, Dell suffered a devastating knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs that has him expected to miss the entire 2025 season.
“We loved having Stef on our team, we’ll see how things work out with him,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said at the NFL scouting combine. “Stef, you talk about energy, you talk about leadership, he brought a lot to our team.
“So, it hurt us down the stretch not having Stef, not having Tank. You need those playmakers, especially at the wide receiver position. It enhances your ability to be able to move the football down the field and score points. That is an area of emphasis for us is looking at the wide receivers.”
Diggs would regularly hold court with his teammates, exchanging jokes and jabs in a fun-loving manner. Diggs emerged as a popular figure in the locker room, voted a team captain in balloting by his teammates.
On the field, the four-time Pro Bowl selection ran crisp routes, creating separation and delivered as a reliable pass-catching option even though he wasn’t a deep threat. By all accounts, his trade from the Bills provided a strong fit from a chemistry and playing standpoint.
A year ago, the Texans traded a second-round draft pick to acquire Diggs and sixth-round and fifth-round selections.
Two high-profile wide receivers are available for trades currently: the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp and the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel.
Diggs genuinely loved playing and being in Houston, per league sources.
Diggs, 31, caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns and was on pace for 100 catches and 1,000 yards before he injured his knee.
In his final game playing last season for the Texans, Diggs caught five passes for 81 yards, including a 49-yard reception, on nine targets, for one of his bigger games since joining the team.
When he’s healthy, Diggs is one of the most productive and polished wide receivers in the game.
His route running is pinpoint.
His hands are reliable.
He’s a physical and willing blocker.
And he fit into the Texans’ team concept all year.
About the only blip on the radar screen was a feisty moment when he nearly got into a fight with Green Bay Packers players including cornerback Jaire Alexander before a loss at Lambeau Field. Other than that game, Diggs’ composure and professionalism were all pluses.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
