The Buffalo Bills made a significant move in trading star wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, agreeing to eat more than $31 million in order to free up cap space. This decision set a record for a non-quarterback trade. General manager Brandon Beane explained that the Bills chose to deal Diggs before June 1 in order to get his contract off the books sooner rather than later.
Despite Diggs’ success as the team’s top receiver, it became clear that it was time to part ways with him due to his dissatisfaction with the team’s direction. Instead of spreading out the financial impact of losing Diggs over multiple seasons, the Bills decided to take the hit immediately in order to move forward with a focus on competing for a championship. By trading Diggs to the Houston Texans in April, the Bills incurred a significant dead-cap hit but were able to free up cap space for future seasons.
After trading Diggs, the Bills made moves to fill the void in their receiving corps with lower-cost veterans and draft picks. Beane likened the team’s current group of receivers to a variety of flavors at an ice cream shop, highlighting the depth and talent they have added in preparation for the upcoming season. Despite the financial hit of trading Diggs,
