JUST IN: Bills GM Makes Definitive Statement on Stefon Diggs’ Future
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs commenced the 2023 season on a high note but encountered a downturn in performance around the midpoint of the season. Despite experiencing a significant decline in productivity towards the end of the season and making minimal impact in the playoffs, the team’s general manager, Brandon Beane, emphasized that Diggs is unequivocally considered the top receiver for the upcoming 2024 season. Following the team’s divisional-round defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs on January 21, Beane conveyed to the press that he remains confident in Diggs’ potential contributions to the team in the upcoming year.
Brandon Beane: ‘Not Wavering Off of That’
After a tumultuous offseason, Diggs initially displayed his typical performance in the early stages of the 2023 season. In the first nine games, the renowned receiver was on track to achieve 1,575 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, he experienced a significant decline in the latter part of the season.
Why is everyone mad at Tyler Bass when Stefon Diggs did this?
— #HiredAP (@CJ_BeastMode_93) January 23, 2024
Throughout the final seven games, including the team’s two playoff matchups, Diggs’s performance plummeted, averaging a mere 41 receiving yards per game with no touchdowns. This marked the longest stretch in his career without scoring. His struggles reached a climax in the team’s playoff elimination, where he failed to secure a crucial 64-yard pass from quarterback Josh Allen in the fourth quarter.
Despite the decline in performance, Beane expressed unwavering confidence that Diggs would remain the team’s primary receiver in the upcoming season.
“Stef’s, he’s a No. 1 receiver. I firmly believe that, not wavering off of that,” Beane stated, as reported by ESPN. He emphasized the need to surround Diggs with additional offensive weapons to prevent opposing teams from strategically limiting his impact on the game. Beane acknowledged Diggs’s competitiveness and commitment to improving, mentioning the desire to reclaim successful deep ball connections. Despite any concerns about Diggs’s recent production, Beane reiterated his belief in Diggs as a top-tier receiver.
Question Marks Beyond Stefon Diggs
As the Bills head into the 2024 season with Stefon Diggs leading the receiving corps, there’s likely to be uncertainty surrounding the supporting cast. Gabe Davis, who has been the No. 2 alongside Diggs for the past two seasons, is nearing the end of his rookie contract and has expressed intentions to explore free agency.
While the Bills have promising pass-catching options in receiver Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid, The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn anticipates the need for additional talent in the upcoming season.
“Regardless of his future, though, the Bills need to figure out how to give Allen a more functional wide receiver corps in 2024,” Fairburn remarked. He highlighted Allen’s notable contributions in the running game but emphasized the importance of enhancing the passing game. In the previous season, Allen’s passing performance was characterized by a high number of attempts at or behind the line of scrimmage, with a relatively low success rate on passes beyond the line. Fairburn pointed out the need for more explosive plays, noting that Allen didn’t have a passing play longer than 15 yards.