Do Houston Texans Have NFL's Best Offense After Stefon Diggs Trade?

The Houston Texans made a splash by trading for Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs. Does the deal make the Texans' offense the best in the NFL?

Jan 15, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) runs the / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The calls for an upgrade to the Houston Texans passing attack have been answered. Quarterback C.J. Stroud thrust his unit into relevancy as a rookie, fueling breakout performances from veteran receiver Nico Collins and rookie Tank Dell.

However, feel-good stories are temporary, and banners hang forever. Elevating Houston into a tier of contenders meant giving Stroud the tools necessary to go toe-to-toe with any quarterback in the sport.

On Wednesday, the Texans traded the Minnesota Vikings 2025 second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for star receiver Stefon Diggs, a 2025 fifth-round pick, and a sixth-rounder in April’s NFL Draft.

Jan 15, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) runs the / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Where does Houston’s offense rank after the blockbuster?

Last season, Stroud and the Texans finished the season with the 15th-best offense in the league by expected points added per play. This was mostly shouldered by a passing offense that ranked 13th by that same metric, as the ground game struggled until running back Devin Singletary hit his stride late in the year. While not a perfect encapsulation of last year’s fun, it’s a good baseline for expectations.

In acquiring aging veterans like Diggs and running back Joe Mixon, Houston found legitimate upgrades while taking on the risk of waning profiles and the twilight that comes with aging curves. Both project as upgrades over last year’s starters.

Of course, Stroud is expected to continue his trajectory, too. While these paths aren’t linear, Stroud was excellent in 2023 and is better equipped to attack every level of the field next season.

It may be bullish to claim the Texans have the best offense in the league. In a conference with arguably the greatest quarterback of all time and the high-octane Miami Dolphins, calling them the best out of the gate is hasty. But it’s certainly in the range of outcomes.

As things stand, a more reasonable projection seems to be between the five and 10 best offenses in the sport. 

Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers will always produce, and the Kansas City Chiefs’ receiving corps can’t get any worse. A game-breaking talent in Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will be in his second year under offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The Detroit Lions show no signs of slowing down, and Joe Burrow is on track to be healthy for Week 1. 

Perhaps their most comparable offense is the Los Angeles Rams, who boast a similarly talented quarterback and a supporting cast that compares fairly well. Running back Kyren Williams is an upgrade over Mixon, but Dell washes any hypothetical third pass catcher in Los Angeles. Upgrades to the Rams offensive line – moving Steve Avila to center and signing Jonah Jackson – likely give them the advantage there.

Even so, it's hard not to get excited about what the Texans have brewing. Diggs is still a strong separator who commands the defense's attention. The big-play proclivities of Dell will return, and Collins is versatile and talented enough to be unlocked inside and on the boundary. These targets complement each other well and create synergy in the passing attack, even if their individual production takes a hit.

Of course, injuries, coaching, variance, and development (or lack thereof) will all play a role in shaking out next season’s most prolific producers. But being in this conversation at all means the offense is ready to compete.

Doing so, while weakening a fellow AFC contender, is yet another reason why the Texans could be poised for a deep playoff run in 2024.