Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Why wouldn’t you want to give Stefon Diggs some more money to play for you?
Stefon Diggs hasn’t played a game for the Buffalo Bills, but he’s getting even more money.
It’s not quite a finesse move, but we respect the ability to get paid without even playing a snap for someone. Buffalo made a blockbuster trade to land the star wide receiver from the Minnesota Vikings during 2020 NFL free agency. He had enough of Kirk Cousins and the Vikings had enough of him, so to Orchard Park, New York he went. Josh Allen must be ecstatic having him on the team.
According to Mike Garafolo of The NFL Network, “The Bills tweaked Stefon Diggs’ contract yesterday…They moved money up a few years.” They’re giving him an additional $3.3 million for 2020, up from $14.8 million. Buffalo reduced his 2021 cash by $300,000, but amped up the guarantee to $11 million. The Bills also reduced his 2022 and 2023 cash down to $22.67 million.
So why are the Buffalo Bills moving up all this cash for Stefon Diggs?
There are a few reasons the Bills may have moved some money around on Diggs’ contract ahead of the 2020 NFL season. The first is Diggs was mulling the possibility of opting out of this year. He can do whatever he wants, but an additional $3.3 million for 2020 is too much cash to simply overlook. Buffalo may want to save some money for other players down the line, as well as him.
The Bills will need to give cornerback Tre’Davious White and probably Allen new contracts after their rookie deals expire. Buffalo has drafted well under general manager Brandon Beane, so there will be guys taken in day two and day three of recent NFL Drafts who will have earned major paydays as well. There’s even a chance Diggs gets himself a new extension in a few years, too.
If Buffalo wants to host its first home playoff game since the tail-end of the K-Gun era, the Bills will need Diggs to play like the No. 1 receiver he is. Though he doesn’t have another star receiver playing alongside him like he did in Minnesota with Adam Thielen, the Bills are expecting him to deliver big for them as their bona fide No. 1. Why else did they give up the farm for him?
With an extra $3.3 million hitting his bank account this season, look for Diggs to shine in Buffalo.