'Timing and Value': Brandon Beane Reveals Details Behind Stefon Diggs Trade to Houston Texans

The Bills felt the "timing and value" for Stefon Diggs was right in their decision to trade the All-Pro wide receiver to the Houston Texans.

Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) takes the / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

When the Buffalo Bills traded for Stefon Diggs in March of 2020, it appeared that the All-Pro wide receiver would retire with the franchise. He spent his first two seasons helping the Bills establish themselves as a championship contender.

Despite minor frustration entering his third season, Diggs signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension that should have kept him in Buffalo until 2027.

Nearly two years after signing an extension, the Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans. Bills general manager Brandon Beane revealed that the timing of Diggs's extension was the right move at the time. However, Beane added a lot had changed over the previous two years.

Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) takes the / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

"This is not the first time we've been asked, 'Would we move him,'" Beane told Buffalo reporters Wednesday afternoon. "Even prior to this year. You discuss it when you get calls. There have been plenty of players who got called about, but they never got moved.

"I think with this move, talking with Houston, the value made sense, and the timing made sense for them and us. We worked on the deal and got it finalized today."

Beane elected not to disclose whether or not Diggs asked for a trade out of Buffalo, he stated the team's desire to replace the services of the All-Pro receiver.

In 65 career games, Diggs recorded 445 catches for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns — ranking first in each statistical category for the Bills.

Diggs began his career as a fifth-round pick (No. 146 overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft and has established himself as one of the league's top wide receivers. In 2023, Diggs recorded his sixth consecutive season of 1,000 yards. In 17 games, the veteran wideout caught 107 balls for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns.

In exchange for Diggs, the Texans sent a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings), a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to Buffalo.

"The timing is the value that you are being offered for the player versus what you think is fair," Beane said. "You are always looking at, not just this year, but in future years as well. You have to consider all of that.

"We all know that we walked into this league year with the salary cap and where we were. Yes, we will eat a bit [in dead money] this year, it freezes $27.0 million off our cap space and gives us more flexibility in the future."