The Buffalo Bills will face a difficult assignment this offseason in replacing the output that Stefon Diggs has provided over the past four seasons.
But, much as the Bills acquired Diggs in an unexpected and blockbuster transaction, an analyst believes a similar move could result in a replacement when Diggs was moved to the Houston Texans earlier this month. Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus discussed the various options for replacing Diggs, including a possible trade with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Bills Would Need to Convince Niners to Deal Star Receiver
Monson stated that there are no No. 1 receiving alternatives available to the Bills in free agency, and the team’s No. 28 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft will not be high enough to grab one of the top receiving prospects.
He suggested the Bills try to persuade the Cincinnati Bengals to trade Tee Higgins, albeit they could be hesitant to sell him to a conference opponent. Aiyuk could be a more achievable choice, but the Bills would still need to make a compelling offer that included a first-round draft pick.
“Similarly, the San Francisco 49ers seem keen to retain Brandon Aiyuk, but they likely haven’t seen that resolve tested with a trade offer featuring a first-round selection,” Monson noted in an email. “Aiyuk averaged 2.65 yards per route ran last year, and Tyreek Hill was the only NFL receiver with a higher PFF grade. In each case, the Bills would have to consider the contract to which they would have to re-sign that player, but Hill, Diggs, and A.J. Brown have all lately demonstrated the potential advantage of such a transaction if it could be made to happen.”
Aiyuk just had a career-best season, with 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Bills not only lost Diggs this summer, but also No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. Khalil Shakir, the team’s top returning receiver, had 39 catches for 611 yards and two scores last season, but second-year receiver Justin Shorter is also expected to return after spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve. The squad also signed Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins in free agency.
Brandon Aiyuk’s Big Price Tag
If the Bills can persuade the 49ers to part ways with Aiyuk, finding a method to pay him will be the next obstacle. Spotrac estimated that the wide receiver’s market value would be a four-year contract worth $96.1 million.
As Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports pointed out, the Bills were already short on cap space before dealing Diggs, and they will take another short-term hit before seeing any savings.
“The Bills’ salary cap situation for 2024 looks bleak, but Buffalo appears to be playing the long game here,” Kerr stated in an email. “The Bills will carry $31.1 million in dead cap space with the Diggs trade, but will save $19 million in cash by trading Diggs now, resulting in $19 million in cap space freed up for 2025.” They expect to have $4.5 million in available cap space in 2024.”
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