This offseason, the Buffalo Bills will have a challenging assignment in trying to replace the output that Stefon Diggs has contributed over the last four seasons.
However, after Diggs was moved to the Houston Texans earlier this month, an analyst says a similar approach may bring in a replacement, just as the Bills acquired Diggs through an unexpected and blockbuster trade. The various options the Bills have to replace Diggs were broken down by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus. One of those options is a possible trade with the San Francisco 49ers in order to acquire wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Bills Would Have to Persuade the Niners to Trade for a Star Receiver
The Bills will not be able to select a top receiver with their No. 28 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, according to Monson, and they will not have access to any No. 1 receiving possibilities through free agency.
Though they might be hesitant to give Tee Higgins to a conference foe, he advised the Bills try to persuade the Cincinnati Bengals to trade him. Though the Bills would still need to make a compelling offer that includes a first-round draft pick, Aiyuk might be a more accessible choice.
The Buffalo Bills will face a difficult task this offseason in attempting to replicate the production that Stefon Diggs has given them over the previous four seasons.
But an analyst believes a similar strategy might bring in a replacement after Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans earlier this month, much like the Bills did when they got Diggs through an unexpected and blockbuster trade. Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus looked down the options the Bills have to replace Diggs. A potential trade with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is one of those ideas.
After a career-best season in which he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven scores, Aiyuk is coming off the field.
In addition to losing Diggs to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, the Bills also lost Gabe Davis, their number two receiver, to the same team this offseason. Khalil Shakir, who finished the previous season with 39 catches for 611 yards and two touchdowns, is the team’s best returning receiver. Justin Shorter, a second-year receiver, is also anticipated to return after missing his whole rookie campaign due to injury. In free agency, the team also signed Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Exorbitant Cost
The next task would be figuring out how to pay for Aiyuk if the Bills could persuade the 49ers to let go of him. According to Spotrac, a four-year contract worth $96.1 million would be the wide receiver’s market value.
The Bills, who were already strapped for cap space before to dealing Diggs, will suffer another temporary setback before beginning to realize some savings, as Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports pointed out.
“Buffalo seems to be playing the long game here, but the Bills’ salary cap situation for 2024 looks dire,” Kerr said. “With the Diggs trade, the Bills will have $31.1 million in dead cap space, but they will also save $19 million in cash by moving Diggs now, which will free up $19 million in cap space for 2025. For 2024, their estimated available cap space will be $4.5 million.
