During his first press conference since the trade of star receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen expressed his gratitude and reflected on the impact Diggs had on the team and his development as a quarterback.
“It’s definitely hard to part ways with a guy that’s been very instrumental in our success here over the last four years,” Allen remarked, as reported by ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg.
Allen acknowledged the challenging nature of the NFL’s business aspects, saying, “Obviously, I wish we could keep everybody. We’ve made a lot of changes this offseason, lost a lot of veteran leadership, Stef being one of them. That’s the nature of the business. And going into Year 7 now, it’s just kind of what it is. I don’t get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to lead the guys on this team.”
In the trade, the Bills sent Diggs, who had been their leading receiver for the past four seasons, along with a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder to the Texans. In return, Buffalo received a 2025 second-round pick (originally from the Minnesota Vikings). As part of the deal, Buffalo will absorb a record non-quarterback cap hit of $31.1 million in 2024.
RELATED: Josh Allen Reportedly ’Snapped’ at Stefon Diggs After Week 1 Loss to Jets
Reflecting on their time together, Allen credited Diggs with significantly shaping his career, noting, “I’ll always remember Diggs as the receiver that helped me become the quarterback that I am today, and I’ll always thank him for that.”
Allen continued, expressing a deep personal fondness for his former teammate, “I’ll always love that guy like a brother. He meant a lot. Look at the statistics. The numbers don’t lie,” according to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra.
With the departure of Diggs and Gabe Davis—who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars—Buffalo’s receiving corps will look quite different. The team now features Khalil Shakir, recent signings Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins, along with tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox.
Despite these significant changes, Bills general manager Brandon Beane indicated that the team is not in a rush to directly replace Diggs in this year’s NFL draft, where Buffalo holds the 28th overall pick.
