There is no boring offseason with Stefon Diggs.
The Buffalo Bills wide receiver said he does not know what the future holds, and naturally, the media tried to read-overread, misread-what his words meant.
"I feel like I take it day by day. Obviously, there's a lot of changes going on, a lot of things going on," he told reporters early last month.
"I can't really put the carriage before the horse, you know what I'm saying? But I got a great offseason in front of me to put a lot of work in and kind of build around what we got and what we're doing.
Trade speculations instantly sprung up, with many speculating he would be on the move next season.
The rumors are not without basis, though.
The Bills have some financial decisions before the NFL 2024 season arrives.
They'll need a retool after coming up short last season when they were booted out by eventual champions Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
Read more: Where Do the Commanders Stand on Sam Howell? Will They Trade Him?
The Bills are still in the Super Bowl window. So why this dilemma over Diggs' future?
Many are pointing to warning signs regarding the player's ability.
He had a promising first half of 2023 but suffered a gradual decline leading to the playoffs.
"Diggs' 2023 production declined from an average of 89 to 70 yards per game. In advanced stats, he dropped from third to 45th in receiving DVOA among qualified receivers (50 or more targets)," ESPN's Aaron Schatz wrote in his NFL offseason moves column.
"Particularly notable was a drop in the average depth of target from 11.2 yards to 10.3 yards. He was still drawing targets like a No. 1 receiver, but he was getting them on shorter routes and doing less with them."
It will be bold for the Bills to move the four-time Pro Bowl. However, it might make sense from a financial standpoint.
The team can save $19 million if they decide to deal him in a post-June 1 trade. This decision will also bring them 2024 draft capital.
He is set to earn $18.5 million in 2024 and carries a cap hit of $27.8 million and a $31 million dead cap value.
Trading him away might not make sense in terms of NFL title contention.
"He's a No. 1 receiver, I firmly believe that, not wavering off of that," general manager Brandon Beane insisted last month.
He and quarterback Josh Allen reached another level playing together. Diggs remains a key cog in their offense despite the struggle.
In 2023, he was targeted 160 times, six-target higher than the previous season. He also surpassed the 100-catch mark for four straight seasons.
Diggs is also about contending, so it might make more sense for him to stay. It is unclear if he is ready to restructure his contract so they can continue as a top-tier team.
He is set to earn $28 million for each season until 2026 and a $22.5 million salary in 2027.
Diggs said he is going to work hard this offseason. His future is unknown, but his drive is still there.
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