Rick Spielman finds himself empathizing with Brandon Beane’s recent trade decision, drawing from his own experience as the former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings. In 2020, Spielman orchestrated the trade of Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, a move that now leaves him scratching his head as he analyzes the Bills’ subsequent trade of the talented receiver to the Houston Texans.
The crux of Spielman’s perplexity lies in the terms of the trade: the Bills received a 2025 second-round pick from Houston while also parting ways with two future late-round draft picks. Moreover, the significant dead money—exceeding $31 million—that the Bills will absorb due to this transaction adds a layer of complexity to the situation.
Expressing his candid thoughts on the “With the First Pick” podcast with co-host Ryan Wilson, Spielman admits to feeling taken aback by these aspects of the deal. He highlights the juxtaposition between the draft capital acquired for Diggs and the substantial dead money that the Bills will incur.
Spielman Analyzes Bills’ Trade: Intangible Factors at Play
Spielman notes that while the Bills gained minimal returns in draft picks, including a deferred second-round pick in 2025, they now face the challenge of scrutinizing the upcoming draft with limited resources—possessing only a first-round pick and a second-round pick, with no selections in the top 100.
Considering these optics, Spielman speculates that the trade was largely motivated by intangible factors rather than solely by the exchange of assets. He suggests that internal dynamics within the Bills organization, including relationships with players, coaches, and changes in coaching staff midseason, likely influenced the decision-making process. Spielman hints at the possibility that considerations beyond tangible assets played a significant role in shaping the trade.
“I think the question that comes to play is that relationship with the [Bills’] locker room, the quarterback, the coaching staff,” Spielman said. “Did this have anything to do with them changing offensive coordinators midseason? When you watched him last year, his production went down the second half of the season and into the playoffs. Is it worth the amount of money they’re paying him for the production they got? Whether that was his fault or not, whether that was the new scheme under Joe Brady, the new offensive coordinator, those are all talks behind the scenes.
“What I can tell you is how difficult those decisions are. If you’re technically giving away a Stefon Diggs for the value they got and the cap value that they’re going to take, there are other underlying issues behind closed doors that will probably never become public, and you’ve kind of seen some of that a little bit with that disgruntledness on the sideline with Josh Allen. Some of the rumblings during the last two offseasons, so he ends up in Houston.”
Diggs Joins Texans: Aiming for Super Bowl Contention
As the Buffalo Bills set out on the task of finding a successor for Stefon Diggs, the star wide receiver is heading to Houston to team up with quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is coming off an exceptional rookie season. The Texans, fresh off an unexpected journey to the AFC divisional round, have bolstered their roster significantly with additions like Diggs, running back Joe Mixon, and defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Derek Barnett.
“They’re not just aiming to win the AFC South; they’re aiming to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs, win the AFC, and make a push for the Super Bowl,” commented Spielman. “With the way C.J. Stroud performed last season, they’re fast-tracking their program and going all-in to see if they can make a run for it next year as well.”
So, what can the Texans expect from Diggs? “They’re getting a top-notch football player, although he’s approaching the later stages of his career,” noted Spielman. “There’s no denying his competitiveness.
“When he arrives in Houston, you’ll see the best version of Stefon Diggs because he’ll be motivated, eager to prove himself, and joining a talented football team. While it remains to be seen what the future holds, I can say with confidence that next year, you’ll witness a stellar performance from Diggs, giving his all for the Texans.”
