Diggs - will he resurface as the Bills go to WR in 2024?

[BarleyNY]

36 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

I think the problem is if they trade him or cut him theres a huge dead cap hit. Realistically , what could they trade him for?

He still has value as a WR but the new team would take on a $19M salary. Maybe a 4th plus. A 3rd if we are lucky. I think it’s becoming more of a situation where we need to part ways because the relationship is deteriorating. That’s tough when you’re revamping a position group. You don’t want a disgruntled star player to negatively impact the youth. 

 

The cap hit is bad. But the other side of that coin is that keeping him adds $19M to his total cap liability. Trading him involves a difficult, but manageable short term cap hit. Long term it’s probably worth it, especially if  we get the Diggs from the second half of the season. Or worse. 

[GoBills808]

8 minutes ago, transient said:

That's very optimistic of you. There would have been lots of time left on the clock, and since the fantasy rosters had to be set prior to kickoff, the Bills still would have had to use their defense to stop the Chiefs.

It was likely a 30+ point differential swing in win%

[Steptide]

I think it's way too much of a coincidence that his production dropped off after Brady took over. I think something changed schematically that caused his drop in production. Obviously it worked to some degree because they were the 2 seed and had greatly improved after Brady took over. Obviously the drop in the kc game was huge, but I do believe there is something to getting in a rhythm, and he hadn't been in one for sometime at that point. I think he bounces back just fine next season, especially if they load up with weapons. They need a number 2 receiver badly. I feel like we haven't had one in 5 years 

[transient]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

NOT UPSET BECAUSE THEY SHOULD GO BPA - Anyone who thinks its WR or nothing at 28 would make a terrible GM.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should they ever lock into ONE position and take a LESSER prospect over more talented players.  This team has a lot of needs, and WR isn't even the top need.  It is maybe the top priority, but not our biggest hole in a draft that is both rich and deep at WR.  

Definitely not disagreeing with the rationale behind this thinking, but I think it is still possible to agree with this conceptually and still be pissed if they come out of another first round without a WR when they've needed one for 2 years now and when it clearly would have made a huge difference last season. I think they need to do everything they can within reason and without being stupid to come out of round 1 with, at the very least, the WR they had the last first round grade on if not someone higher on their board.

[BillMafia716ix]

Think the change at coordinator had a lot to do with it. There were also a few games where Diggs had his man beat and Josh simply missed him. Josh and Diggs timing was off all year especially on deep balls

[SectionC3]

3 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

what?  Diggs has 100 yards and 0 TD’s in the 3 playoff games against KC combined

 

That’s a shame.  Could have increased it by 60 this year if he simply caught that dime. 

[Chicken Boo]

If you aren't concerned with how Stef finished the season, then you aren't being honest with yourself.  

 

Almost 13 straight weeks of meh play.  

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, ExWNYer said:

 

That would be the defensive-minded Head Coach's precious defense.

No it would be our boy in the #14.

 

He’s had 1 game with 100+ yards since 2020 in the playoffs. 3 games under 60 yards. He hasn’t had a TD since the Baltimore game 4 years ago.
 

Guy stinks in the postseason. 

Edited March 10 by FireChans

[ExWNYer]

10 minutes ago, FireChans said:

No it would be our boy in the #14.

 

He’s had 1 game with 100+ yards since 2020 in the playoffs. 3 games under 60 yards. He hasn’t had a TD since the Baltimore game 4 years ago.
 

Guy stinks in the postseason. 

 

Yeah and McDermott's D keeps surrendering leads late in those games.

[BuffaloBill]

As for the draft I am very gun shy regarding any trade up scenario for a WR. After Sammie Watkins I would prefer to stay put at draft choice.

 

[FireChans]

52 minutes ago, ExWNYer said:

 

Yeah and McDermott's D keeps surrendering leads late in those games.

Are you arguing that Diggs doesn’t disappear in the playoffs? Or just trying to be inane for no reason?

[Gugny]

5 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

 

 

He has not made big plays in the playoffs. 

Absolutely disappears against KC in the postseason. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

5 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

One of the biggest mysteries to last season was Diggs lack of production in the back half of last season.  His production must return in 2024 given his presence, role and cap hit.

 

This is not intended as a bash Diggs thread. Rather, what do you think happened nad how does it play into Buffalo’s draft?

I chose “other” in drop off in production category. It’s a combination. I think Diggs lost a bit of a step simply because of age and is no longer a top 5 player at his position. I still think he is in the upper echelon of receivers though. He might of lost a bit of speed, but his route running is superb and that is usually the last skill set to go (ask Jerry Rice and Larry Fitz.) I think his injuries were more significant than most think. He literally fell off a cliff in the 2nd half of the season, but his strong 1st half still allowed him to put up almost 1200 yards and 8 Touchdowns. I still think he needs more help to be as effective as possible. WR absolutely needs to be picked in the 1st or at least a trade up in the mid-2nd. 

19 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Are you arguing that Diggs doesn’t disappear in the playoffs? Or just trying to be inane for no reason?

 Because Diggs is usually being mugged and doubled in the playoffs. It is up to other guys to take advantage of that. 

[FireChans]

29 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I chose “other” in drop off in production category. It’s a combination. I think Diggs lost a bit of a step simply because of age and is no longer a top 5 player at his position. I still think he is in the upper echelon of receivers though. He might of lost a bit of speed, but his route running is superb and that is usually the last skill set to go (ask Jerry Rice and Larry Fitz.) I think his injuries were more significant than most think. He literally fell off a cliff in the 2nd half of the season, but his strong 1st half still allowed him to put up almost 1200 yards and 8 Touchdowns. I still think he needs more help to be as effective as possible. WR absolutely needs to be picked in the 1st or at least a trade up in the mid-2nd. 

 Because Diggs is usually being mugged and doubled in the playoffs. It is up to other guys to take advantage of that. 

Right, unlike the regular season where teams just pretend Diggs doesn’t exist and let him catch the ball uncovered.

 

just like what happened week 10 this year.

 

I like Diggs and he was elite in the regular season his first few years here, but a guys is what he is. 

[blacklabel]

I bet if he catches that moon ball vs. da Chefs we aren't having this conversation. When Josh launched that thing I was like, dear lord man, he can't run his route into the parking lot...oh wait he's under it, he's got...he's NOT got it. Son of a! I better quit now before I have flashbacks and start kicking rocks again. 

[Alphadawg7]

4 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Alpha... if Josh's shoulder is bothering him  so much maybe he should knock off the golf, jet setting and get something done about it.

...As for Diggs, I think he was injured physically and mentally. I agree with others we need to draft high a WR

Everyone knows we are drafting a WR early and no one is opposed to it, not even Beane.  Pretty universal sentiment with Diggs being 31  

[ProcessTruster]

double coverage will do that to ya

[nedboy7]

I expect Diggs to be the top WR for the Bills next season.  All this talk about a rookie WR having massive impact next season is not realistic.  But drafting one and having him develop is crucial regardless. 

[Aussie Joe]

Hoping for the best re Diggs in 2024…

 

Still got no idea what happened to him the back half of 23… wasn’t the same guy

[PBF81]

9 hours ago, FireChans said:

He is arguably the biggest playoff no-show on the team.

 

No big argument, but which of our players, on either side, have shown up with any kind of consistency in the playoffs besides Allen or Davis?

 

It's our single biggest problem that appears to have zero solution.  

 

 

[Governor]

8 hours ago, FireChans said:

No it would be our boy in the #14.

 

He’s had 1 game with 100+ yards since 2020 in the playoffs. 3 games under 60 yards. He hasn’t had a TD since the Baltimore game 4 years ago.
 

Guy stinks in the postseason. 

I don’t know how many others feel the same as me but one of my issues with him, other than being totally useless in the playoffs, is that his entire game is geared towards avoiding contact. This year teams got tired of that and just started picking him up and slamming him on his head. That might be where his injury occurred. Avoiding contact oftentimes resulted in him going down really awkwardly the last 2 seasons. I cringe every time someone is hanging off of him. I think he should either be fearless and dive for yards, or get down on the ground. I’m fine with either one.  No more just standing there with 3 guys hanging off of you and then getting powerbombed.

 

Other than that, he could probably be a good #2 next season or not.

Edited March 11 by Governor

[Jimmy Harris 69]

I would like to see experimentation with Diggs in the slot at different points in the game. Use he and Kinkaid as funky chess pieces in the middle of the field. Pressure defenses further with our new speed on the outside Adonai Mitchell and Van Jefferson (my cheap FA pick).

[ExWNYer]

7 hours ago, FireChans said:

Are you arguing that Diggs doesn’t disappear in the playoffs? Or just trying to be inane for no reason?

 

Are you arguing that the defense doesn’t disappear in the playoffs? Or just trying to be inane for no reason?

[BobbyC81]

11 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

For the he lost a step crowd, typically when a player slows down athletically it’s gradual. Diggs’ decline was immediate (and by decline I mean a full season projection of the second half of his season was still 80+ catches for 800+ yards).

 

I feel this was more:

 

Offensive changes in-season: His production dipped as soon as Brady took over, so there may have been a change in philosophy.

 

Defensive adjustments: Davis, Knox, Sherfield, and Hardy scared no one in 2023, so could have the focus really settled on Diggs? The high volume of targets for Shakir may support this. 
 

Injury: He was never on the report, but to assume he had some kind of injury isn’t a stretch. Big Groot was rarely on the report and it was wildly believed and talked about how he had a significant foot injury. 
 

I think it’s in Diggs best interest if we started to spotlight him less, we need to stop having him be a 160 target WR if we want any kind of production from him in the very near future. 

I believe his usage and the coverage on him in the 2nd half led to frustration and bad attitude.  Note how often he was taking himself out.  With more emphasis on the running game, he’s not a willing blocker.  Remember that Gabe got a game ball with no receptions because of his blocking.

 

Having witnessed Lou Saban’s commitment to running OJ Simpson, a lot of the success was due to Bob Chandler and JD Hill willing to provide downfield blocking.  I don’t see that commitment by Diggs.

[Process]

12 hours ago, stuvian said:

I hope we find a way to keep him. He still has the afterburners and makes big plays in big games. If we have a complimentary threat he is more or less unstoppable. The chemistry with he and Josh is real and would be hard to duplicate with new faces. I like having a player of his demeanour on the Bills. He's crazy to win

Hasn't he averaged like 30 yards and 0 TDs in three playoff games vs KC?

[Sweats]

If you only have one viable WR on your roster, it won't take D's too long to figure out that if you take him away, the team is at their mercy for answers on O.

[Mr. WEO]

19 hours ago, stuvian said:

I hope we find a way to keep him. He still has the afterburners and makes big plays in big games. If we have a complimentary threat he is more or less unstoppable. The chemistry with he and Josh is real and would be hard to duplicate with new faces. I like having a player of his demeanour on the Bills. He's crazy to win

 

 

The biggest game every year is the final game.  And in elimination games, he's not "crazy to win"....he's terrible, throughout his career. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

It would not bother me at all to see he had been traded to Dallas or somewhere.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Diggs is still elite.

Josh missed him when wide open on deep shots several times late in the season including the Steelers playoff game.

Yes he had that horrible drop in the KC game.  I love Allen but his deep ball is inconsistent at best. 

You have to wonder if he caught that and scored a TD with the defender falling down, would there be any Diggs decline talk at all.

All that said, Bills need to draft at least one if not two WRs. Bills thought Davis was going to be elite after the KC playoff game and it just never happened.  

They must get younger and bigger at the WR spot. 

A great QB should be able to elevate average WRs, but an elite WR will also make life easier for Josh. 

 

[WotAGuy]

Draft two WRs high, maybe a third at the back end of draft. 

[ProcessTruster]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

The biggest game every year is the final game.  And in elimination games, he's not "crazy to win"....he's terrible, throughout his career. 

the better DCs just double cover him and that takes him (or anyone) away.   pretty simple solution .  Jerry f ing Rice ain't beatin NFL double coverage more than 3-4 times a game.  is what it is.   Josh wisely goes elsewhere with the ball , Diggs' stats fall and idiot fans think he's washed up.  geez....

[FireChans]

8 hours ago, ExWNYer said:

 

Are you arguing that the defense doesn’t disappear in the playoffs? Or just trying to be inane for no reason?

Read the topic title and get back to me lmao. 

[ExWNYer]

17 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Read the topic title and get back to me lmao. 

 

I know what the thread is about. You obviously have an axe to grind with Diggs so have at it. I'm not defending him, simply pointing out that McDermott's limp d*cked D is more responsible for their playoff failures than Diggs' lack of big games.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

8 or more targets in 7/9 games he played under brady.  There was also a 2 week stretch where buffalo threw the ball a total of 36 times.    

 

Allens stats always tail off in the 2nd half of the year as well, as that is traditionally when the weather turns.  Our last 2 regular season home games allen completed 22/45 passes for 263 1 TD and 1 INT with 19 carries for 68 yards.  

 

In the cold and wind we ran the ball a bit more (as expected) and played more "complimentary" football.  Adding a 2nd tight end speaks a little to this philosophy as well - when it gets crappy out, we're built to more effectively counter that.  

Edited March 11 by Bleeding Bills Blue

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, ExWNYer said:

 

I know what the thread is about. You obviously have an axe to grind with Diggs so have at it. I'm not defending him, simply pointing out that McDermott's limp d*cked D is more responsible for their playoff failures than Diggs' lack of big games.

I have an axe to grind… talking about Diggs in the Diggs topic. 
 

But you don’t have an axe to grind….talking about McD and the defense in the Diggs topic.

 

https://tenor.com/view/waka-flocka-okay-ok-yeah-right-gif-11603145
 

this is just sad. You don’t even disagree with me. Lmao. The defense has nothing to do with Diggs having 30 yards per game most postseasons 

[Toyo321]

He needs to be pushed as the featured #1 WR on this team.  The only way that happens is if you draft a stud WR in the draft or even maybe a two WR's.

Then you force him to fight to maintain that #1 WR designation.  Competition in training camp is what it's all about and if he can't beat the new guy out in preseason, then so be it.  We will have our new #1.

[ExWNYer]

4 minutes ago, FireChans said:

I have an axe to grind… talking about Diggs in the Diggs topic. 
 

But you don’t have an axe to grind….talking about McD and the defense in the Diggs topic.

 

https://tenor.com/view/waka-flocka-okay-ok-yeah-right-gif-11603145
 

this is just sad. You don’t even disagree with me. Lmao. The defense has nothing to do with Diggs having 30 yards per game most postseasons 

 

Nobody is stopping you from talking about Diggs. I made a comment upthread about the defense being a bigger liability than Diggs in the playoffs but you didn't want to hear it and keep engaging and throwing out words like inane and sad. You're entitled to your opinion about Diggs and you can do it without attacking a differing opinion. I did talk about Diggs in a Diggs thread. I said he wasn't the biggest reason for the team's failures in the playoffs. Move on.

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, ExWNYer said:

 

Nobody is stopping you from talking about Diggs. I made a comment upthread about the defense being a bigger liability than Diggs in the playoffs but you didn't want to hear it and keep engaging and throwing out words like inane and sad. You're entitled to your opinion about Diggs and you can do it without attacking a differing opinion. I did talk about Diggs in a Diggs thread. I said he wasn't the biggest reason for the team's failures in the playoffs. Move on.

Thanks for the insight. 
 

He’s a playoff no-show. 

Edited March 11 by FireChans

[ExWNYer]

4 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Thanks for the insight. 
 

He’s a playoff no-show. 

 

Thanks for the condescension. 

[Nephilim17]

My guess is he still contributes a fair amount but starts to decline and gets 800 to 900 yards. Good but far from great.