The Houston Texans acquired veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs last offseason in a bold blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Bills. Diggs did not end up meeting expectations in Houston. He finished his lone season with the Texans by recording 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns before tearing his ACL.
Despite trading a second-round pick for Diggs, the Texans and player agreed to a reworked contract that wiped out the remaining three years of his deal. After showing signs of decline, general manager Nick Caserio does not appear interested in re-signing Diggs. They've already acquired a replacement, trading for Christian Kirk earlier this week.
Diggs will attempt to revive his career on the open market. The 31-year-old should have a modest amount of suitors. We've identified three potential landing spots for Diggs in free agency.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers need to acquire more pass-catching threats this offseason. Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey was a revelation in 2024, recording 82 receptions for 1.149 yards and seven touchdowns. Quentin Johnston showcased sophomore improvement, totaling a team-high eight TDs and 711 yards. Jim Harbaugh should be in the market for a third option in the passing game.
The Chargers attempted the fifth-fewest passes (510) in the league last season. That feels a little too run-heavy considering Justin Herbert is their quarterback. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman needs to pass the ball more, and No. 3 receiver Joshua Palmer is a pending free agent. Diggs isn’t a true go-to receiver anymore, but he’d fit in nicely alongside McConkey and Johnston.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals took legitimate steps forward in 2024, finishing 8-9 after going 4-13 in 2023. Quarterback Kyler Murray is locked in as the franchise signal caller. General manager Monti Ossenfort is equipped with a fourth-highest $77.9 million in cap space and should look to continue upgrading Murray's supporting cast.
Marvin Harrison Jr. will be tasked with showcasing further development after failing to meet too-high expectations as a rookie. Tight end Trey McBride is the other high-volume pass catcher on the roster, and Michael Wilson continues to be a useful weapon. Signing in Arizona would keep Diggs playing in a warm climate while offering him an opportunity to play a supporting role on a team whose competitive window is trending up.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been searching for a starting-caliber receiver to play opposite George Pickens. Last year, they drafted Roman Wilson and traded for Mike Williams. Wilson spent the majority of his rookie campaign injured, and Williams is on an expiring contract. Head coach Mike Tomlin will likely prefer a more experienced asset to take pressure off Wilson in training camp.
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are slated for free agency. Pittsburgh will almost certainly re-sign one of them before Monday's negotiating window opens. Whoever is under center next season needs another weapon opposite Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. Diggs has caused the occasional stink throughout his career, but Tomlin is used to managing difficult personalities. This pairing could make sense.
