The Houston Texans had already earned their title as the NFL’s “team on the rise” regardless of any moves they made this past offseason. But that’s what made April’s acquisition of Stefon Diggs even more interesting.
Spend a day at Texans practice (like I did as the team worked out in Cleveland this week) and one thing is clear: Physically, Diggs has plenty left in the tank. The Diggs-C.J. Stroud combo is going to be a problem for opponents — but that wasn’t really in doubt. Even after seeing fewer targets late last season after the Bills made the switch from Ken Dorsey to Joe Brady at offensive coordinator, Diggs still crossed the 100-catch threshold for a fourth straight season.
one of wun 🫡 pic.twitter.com/WPayM4IXHT
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) May 30, 2024
The more pressing question surrounding Diggs was, after a bit of acrimony on the way out the door in Minnesota and then Buffalo, would he be the right fit in a very talented but very young Texans locker room?
As far as the Texans are concerned, things couldn’t be going better with their new star wideout. Diggs has been re-energized by the trade, and he has been a force of positivity on and off the field for the Texans.
I’ve covered Diggs going back to his time at the University of Maryland, and I can say that, when we met up on Monday, he was the happiest I’ve ever seen him. He realizes that, at age 30, he has to be a leader on this team. You can see it in the way he interacts with his teammates on the field, all encouragement as he teaches. I was told by multiple people that Diggs is also getting along great with the coaching staff. Receivers coach Ben McDaniels emphasized that he has been a vocal leader in what McDaniels describes as a “professional” receivers room. For Diggs’ part, when I asked him about the young talent in that receivers room, particularly Nico Collins and Tank Dell, his smile grew wider and wider as he raved about their talent and work habits.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t hold back when asked about his team’s newest star: “I love Diggs. He’s off the charts as a leader, off the charts as a player and a person.”
Of course, it’s August, and we tend to get carried away with optimism this time of year. A lot of these good vibes were there when Diggs arrived in Buffalo four years ago. I asked Ryans: What if this version of Diggs doesn’t last? What if, as the season rolls on, he becomes a problem?
Ryans’ answer was as direct as the question: “I don’t have to worry about that. I’ve never had issues with players when it comes to that … (Diggs) is a guy who loves football. I want 90 guys who love football on our team. So I’m (telling) our staff, I want to see more guys with that urgency and energy like Stef. I’m not worried about him one bit.”
Diggs told me one of his goals was to be elected a team captain in Houston, a role he held in Buffalo. “I’d say he’s well on his way,” Ryans said.
My biggest takeaway on Diggs this summer: He’s locked in. He’s putting in the work just like he did throughout his career to this point. He knows what the rest of us believe: This Texans team has a chance to be special.
(Top photo: Troy Taormina / USA Today)
