Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane Settles Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs Debate After Trade

The Buffalo Bills broke up the Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs connection last week and general manager hosted a press conference to address the decision.

Dec 31, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and Stefon Diggs. / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

It was always a silly debate, but we now know where Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane stands on it.

For anyone arguing that quarterback Josh Allen achieved superstar status solely due to addition of the since-traded Stefon Diggs, Beane suggested that Allen is a self-made man while also throwing some subtle shade at Diggs on his way out the door.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) makes a strong pass to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon / Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and

"They've been a really good duo," said Beane while also indicating that the time was right for a breakup. "I don't think Stef made an All-Pro before he got here, and he made multiple and some Pro Bowls in there, too. Josh ramped up as well."

In the season prior to Diggs's arrival, Allen led the Bills to a 10-6 record and a wildcard playoff berth as a second-year player. Working with John Brown and Cole Beasley as his top targets, Allen threw for 3,089 yards and 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He added 510 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

Diggs averaged 17.9 yards per catch en-route to 1,130 receiving yards in 2019, his final season with the Minnesota Vikings. He proceeded to eclipse that total in each of his four seasons as a Bill while seeing his targets balloon 161 per year.

The production increased for both Allen and Diggs when the two joined forces in 2020, but it's not fair for either man to take credit for the other's success. Both players were already on that trajectory and their mutually beneficial relationship arguably accelerated the process.

With Allen expected to continue his ascension, the Bills apparently believe that the 30-year-old Diggs is no longer worth his lucrative salary after showing signs of decline throughout the 2023 season's second half.

While Diggs managed only one touchdown over the past eight regular season games, the Allen-led Bills posted a 6-2 record to leapfrog the Miami Dolphins for the division title. Allen, who was one of five NFL MVP finalists, accounted for 20 touchdowns (11 pass, 9 rush) during the eight-game stretch run.

Allen and Diggs will get a chance to settle the score on the field with the Bills scheduled to visit the Houston Texans in 2024.