Stefon Diggs’ Short-Lived Texans Stint: A High-Risk Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off
When the Houston Texans traded for Stefon Diggs in the 2024 offseason, it was a clear signal from GM Nick Caserio: the Texans weren’t just trying to build - they were trying to win, and win now.
The deal with the Buffalo Bills brought Diggs, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-rounder to Houston in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick. That pick would later become defensive tackle T.J.
Sanders. On paper, it looked like a win-win.
Diggs arrived in Houston with four straight seasons of 100+ receptions and over 1,100 receiving yards under his belt - not to mention four consecutive Pro Bowl nods. He was still producing at a high level and brought instant credibility to a young offense on the rise.
Stacking the Deck for Stroud
The Texans were fresh off a playoff appearance that ended at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 AFC postseason. But with C.J. Stroud proving he was the real deal under center, Houston wasn’t content with just making it to January - they wanted to play deep into it.
Adding Diggs to a receiving corps that already featured Nico Collins and Tank Dell gave Stroud one of the most dynamic trios in the league. National outlets didn’t hold back, with some calling it the best receiving group in the NFL. And early returns backed that up.
Through the first eight games of the 2024 season, Diggs was exactly what the Texans hoped for: 47 catches, 496 yards, three touchdowns through the air, and even one on the ground. He never had fewer than four receptions in a game. Houston raced out to a 6-2 start, and Diggs was a big reason why.
The One-Year Bet
But here’s where things got interesting - and eventually, complicated. Not long after acquiring Diggs, Caserio made a bold move: he restructured Diggs’ contract, wiping out the final three years of his deal and converting it into a one-year pact. That meant Diggs would be a free agent after the 2024 season.
The Texans sweetened the pot by moving $3.5 million in guaranteed money from the following season into 2024, giving Diggs a raise and locking in $22.52 million guaranteed for that year alone. The thinking? Give Diggs a reason to go all-in, with the hope that both sides would want to re-up after a successful season.
And for a while, that bet looked smart.
Then, the Injury
Everything changed in Week 8 against the Colts. Diggs tore his ACL - a devastating blow for any player, let alone one approaching 31.
His season was over. And because of the contract restructure, so was his time in Houston.
At the time, Caserio’s move to void the remaining years looked savvy. He avoided being on the hook for a long-term deal with a receiver entering his 30s, now facing a grueling rehab. But fast forward to early 2026, and Diggs is preparing to play in the Super Bowl - not with Houston, but with the New England Patriots.
That’s right. Diggs not only recovered from the ACL tear in just nine months (a recovery timeline that typically takes closer to a year), but he also landed a three-year, $69 million deal with New England in the 2025 offseason. And he delivered, putting together a strong regular season that helped get the Patriots to the biggest stage.
Meanwhile, the Texans were bounced in the AFC Divisional Round - again. That marked the seventh time the franchise has fallen short at that stage. And now, the decision to let Diggs walk without any guarantee of a return is being second-guessed by fans and media alike.
A Replacement That Didn’t Measure Up
In an effort to fill the Diggs-sized hole in the offense, Houston traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to Jacksonville for wideout Christian Kirk. But while Kirk brought some of the same traits - route running, versatility, veteran savvy - the production just wasn’t the same. Diggs had the better season, and it wasn’t particularly close.
Now, Kirk’s future in Houston is uncertain too. He could be out the door just like Diggs was a year ago, leaving the Texans once again searching for answers at wide receiver.
Looking Ahead
The good news? Houston isn’t in the same desperate spot at wideout as they were before the Diggs trade. Between Collins, Dell, and a few promising young pieces, the position isn’t the top concern.
The bigger issues lie elsewhere - namely, the offensive line and the running back room. Injuries and inconsistent play in both areas hampered what could’ve been a more complete offense in 2025. Those are the areas Caserio and the front office will need to address if they want to take that next step.
Final Word
No one could’ve predicted Diggs would bounce back from an ACL tear that quickly, or that he’d be suiting up in a Super Bowl just over a year after the Texans let him walk. But that’s the nature of the NFL - high-stakes decisions, thin margins, and hindsight that’s always 20/20.
The Texans took a swing. It connected early.
But in the end, it didn’t land the way they hoped. And now, as Diggs chases a ring in New England, Houston is left wondering what could’ve been.