The Buffalo Bills landed what looks to be their new WR1 this past offseason when they traded a second round draft pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for wideout D.J. Moore.
And now it appears that a former Bills All-Pro wideout has also found his feet at a new team. Jordan Schultz reported on August 5 that the Stefon Diggs, who spent 4 seasons in Buffalo from 2020-23 was “close” to signing a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders.
Expectations around the league is Diggs ends up in Washington soon.
“Sources: The #Commanders and 2x All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs have had deep discussions and there’s mutual interest in doing a deal.” Schultz posted on X. “Expectations around the league is Diggs ends up in Washington soon.”
And merely seven minutes later, Schultz confirmed that the Commanders are signing the 32-year old WR on a one-year deal worth as much as $12 million.
“BREAKING: The #Commanders are signing 4x Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs, multiple sources tell me.” Schultz wrote on social media, before following up with the compensation update. “Sources: Stefon Diggs’ deal with the #Commanders is a 1-year contract worth up to $12M.”
It appears that the base salary + signing bonus number is closer to $10 million, as Ian Rapoport reported that the deal was worth “over $10 million”, with the extra $2 million likely coming by way of incentives and make-able bonuses dependant on his and the team’s performance this coming season.
Should the Bills Have Made a Move for Stefon Diggs?
For the Commanders, this is an obviously smart move. Signing a receiver coming off a 1,000+ yard receiving season on a one-year deal worth $10-12 million is very much a bargain in this day and age, even for a player in his early 30s. By comparison, Darnell Mooney signed a deal worth the same amount with the New York Giants, coming off a 443 yard season with the Atlanta Falcons.
Yet for the Bills, this perhaps represents a missed opportunity. Some lamented Buffalo’s acquisition of Moore as being overly expensive; the team gave him a new four year, $110 million extension after having already given up a second round draft pick for him.
And others believe that even with Moore and former WR1 Khalil Shakir, the room still leaves much to be desired. Josh Palmer is coming an ineffective debut season in upstate New York, and Keon Coleman has had more than his share of woes since entering the league as the 33rd overall pick back in April 2024.
The Bills will be hoping to procure some receiving output from rookie Skyler Bell, and perhaps hope that Coleman and/or Palmer make a jump into becoming a consistently reliable weapon on the perimeter.
Yet adding a player like Diggs – although he and the team had their share of disputes – could have given quarterback Josh Allen a legitimate, reliable target that he already has in-built chemistry with. And at just a one-year commitment, there is no real financial risk to the Bills’ future salary cap.
Maybe it was not meant to be, or perhaps the 32-year old would have refused to return to Buffalo regardless. But if Diggs hits the ground running in DC, there may be some envious looks coming Washington’s way from his former employers.
Ex-Bills’ Stefon Diggs Signs With Commanders on One-Year Deal