1. NFL.com uses this description for the Bills wide receiver group
As reports flow in during the NFL's free agency period, the Bills made one of the largest and best so far by putting the finishing touches on one of the league's "juicier" wide receiving groups says NFL.com.
Every club inside the AFC East is a winner based solely on the sea changes unfolding in New England. The Bills, though, already viewed themselves as contenders after a promising run to the playoffs in 2019. GM Brandon Beane used last offseason to address the team's hyper-ugly receiving group, snatching up under-the-radar assets in John Brown and Cole Beasley.
One year later, Beane's trade with the Vikings for wideout Stefon Diggs gives Buffalo a bona fide lead wideout who trailed only Michael Thomas and A.J. Brown among receivers in yards per route run in 2019. The Bills gave up plenty to Minnesota -- first-, fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2020 and a fourth-rounder in 2021 -- meaning Diggs hits the scene with immediate pressure to help … quarterback Josh Allen grow through the air. On paper, though, Diggs, Brown and Beasley comprise a rock-solid threesome for the Bills to unleash on opposing defenses. Play-caller Brian Daboll is already crafting masterpieces on napkins in Buffalo-area hangouts.
At only 26, Diggs could become a staple of Buffalo's offense for years to come.
Media reports have indicated that the Bills have traded with the Vikings for WR Stefon Diggs. Scroll through to view photos of his career to this point.
Stefon Diggs was a five-star recruit and the number eight overall prospect per 247 Sports out of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. He committed to stay at home and play his college football at Maryland.
Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) runs with the ball against West Virginia linebacker Isaiah Bruce, right, during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
He played three seasons at Maryland and had 14 touchdowns and over 2200 yards receiving.
Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) meets with fans after a win over James Madison in an NCAA football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in College Park, Md. Maryland won 52-7. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Diggs was selected in the fifth round (146 overall) by the Vikings in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
In his rookie season in 2015, Diggs had 720 yards receiving and 4 TDs.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) makes a catch during a week 16 NFL football game against the New York Giants on December 27, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Diggs' second season saw him increase his catch total to 84 and his receiving yards total to 903.
Minnesota Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs leaps up to catch a touchdown pass during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 in Minneapolis. The Vikings won the game, 17-14. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Diggs caught 8 touchdowns in the 2017 regular season, helping the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Probably the most memorable play of his career came on the final play of the Divisional Round game in 2017, when he scored a touchdown with no time left on the clock. It has since been named the "Minneapolis Miracle."
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown during an NFL divisional football NFC playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The Vikings beat the Saints 24-29 to advance to the NFC Championship. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Probably the most memorable play of his career came on the final play of the Divisional Round game in 2017, when he scored a touchdown with no time left on the clock. It has since been named the "Minneapolis Miracle."
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates in the end zone after a game winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. The Vikings defeated the Saints 29-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
In 2018, Diggs went over 1,000 receiving yards for the first time, while also catching 9 touchdowns.
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings' Stefon Diggs catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, in Philadelphia. The Minnesota Vikings have become a prolific passing team under new quarterback Kirk Cousins, whose ability to thread pinpoint throws into tight windows and trust in wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs has been on a record-setting space.(AP Photo/Michael Perez, File)
Minnesota Vikings' Stefon Diggs catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) leaves the stands after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
In 2019, Diggs established himself as one of the best deep threats in the NFL and one of the best route runners in the league.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates with teammate Bisi Johnson, right, after catching a 54-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
He went over 1,000 receiving yards again to go along with 6 touchdowns. He helped guide the Vikings back to the playoffs again in 2019.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) waves at fans before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Carson, Calif. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 39-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
During the 2019 season, he averaged a massive 17.9 yards/ catch, showing why he is considered one of the most dangerous receivers in football.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) avoids a tackle by New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker (27) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) squeezes a football prior to the Vikings' game against the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, September 8, 2019 in Minneapolis. The Vikings beat the Falcons 28-12. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a pass for one of his three touchdown receptions during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, October 13, 2019 in Minneapolis. The Vikings beat the Eagles 38-20 (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) carries the ball after he makes a catch during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 19-9. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) runs with the football during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Vikings 16-6. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates his 45-yard touchdown catch during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday Sept. 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisc. The Packers defeated the Vikings 21-16. (Greg Trott via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) looks on during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. The Vikings beat the Cowboys 28-24. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs catches a 51-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Wide Receiver | Stefon Diggs was acquired by the Bills for draft picks on Mar. 20. Diggs teaming up with John Brown and Cole Beasley gives the Bills and Josh Allen three dangerous and complementary receivers on offense.
Minnesota Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs runs for a touchdown in action against the Denver Broncos during a NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2019 in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Broncos 27-23. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) runs after the catch during an NFL regular season game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won, 26-23. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates during in an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. Minnesota won 26-20 in overtime. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a touchdown pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (23) during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Diggs now reportedly joins the Bills via trade, where he'll team up with an exciting offense that features Josh Allen, John Brown, Cole Beasley, Dawson Knox and Devin Singletary.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) looks up at the fans during warmups prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks, 25-19. (Ryan Kang via AP)
2. Washington Post predicts this team to win the AFC East
Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post predicts the Bills will win the AFC East with a 12-4 record in 2020. Now, that's not based off of how he feels, Greenberg came to this conclusion via analytical analysis.
To figure out who is most likely to emerge as this year's AFC East champion we need to look at each team's expected win rate for 2020, derived by looking at win totals and Super Bowl odds from various bookmakers, and adjust that for strength of schedule and location. And while we do not yet know the order of the games we do know the opponents for each team both home and away.
Of the 16 games Buffalo will play, they are expected to be favored in nearly every one, the toughest task being against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Based on the current projections, the Bills look to grab their first division title since 1995 with a 12-4 record. Buffalo should be favored in nearly every game on its schedule, with its toughest task at home against the Kansas City Chiefs (56 percent win probability, roughly equating to a three-point favorite). It will be a close call for second place, but the Patriots, at a projection of 9-7, still could wind up as a playoff team, even without Brady under center.
If all goes to Greenberg's plan, the final standings will look something like this.
Buffalo: 12-4
New England: 9-7
Miami: 8-8
New York: 7-9
3. ESPN names Buffalo "winners" in 2020 free agency
Buffalo has been active in free agency with the re-singing of Quinton Spain, Jordan Poyer's contract extension, and signing Josh Norman. There have also been multiple reports of other free agents to join Buffalo for the upcoming season. ESPN has named Buffalo as winners of free agency so far.
Sometimes, heavy forays into free agency actually work. There was almost universal agreement that the Bills' 2019 spree played a significant role in clinching a wild-card spot. And after their efforts this week, the Bills might have made themselves the favorites in the new-look AFC East.
The big-ticket acquisition, of course, was landing Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs via a trade. But the Bills made plenty of other important and thoughtful moves. First, they made sure to prevent a backslide from their otherwise improved offensive line in re-signing guard Quinton Spain. Then they went hard at upgrading a defensive line already anchored by defensive tackle Ed Oliver by signing veterans Quinton Jefferson and Vernon Butler. And it's likely that coach Sean McDermott will have a better idea of how to use new Buffalo cornerback Josh Norman, dating to their time together with the Panthers.
