He has back to back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He's scored 23 touchdowns in the past three years. In every year of his five-year career he has had at least 10 receptions of 20 yards or more. And he has one of the most memorable playoff game-winning touchdown receptions in league annals. What Stefon Diggs doesn't have however, is a single Pro Bowl on his NFL resume.
Will the trade to Buffalo change those fortunes?
Here are a few reasons why now being a Bill enhances Diggs' chances for Pro Bowl recognition.
True number one
Though it's clear that the primary focus for Diggs is to help the Bills win games, being the true number one passing target in Buffalo's offense is certain to help the trade acquisition see more targets and log the kind of production that garners more attention on the part of players and coaches around the league.
In Minnesota that simply wasn't the case. Diggs and fellow receiver Adam Thielen were receiver 1 and 1A. The result was neither put up monster receiving numbers because Vikings QB Kirk Cousins was apt to spread the ball around, not only to Thielen and Diggs, but TE Kyle Rudolph and RB Dalvin Cook.
The 2019 season in Minnesota provided a glimpse at what Diggs number one receiving role in Buffalo could resemble. With Thielen injured and missing six games last season it gave Diggs more of a true top receiving role for close to half the season. The results were a career-high 1,130 receiving yards on 63 receptions and six touchdowns. Almost a third of those receptions went for 20 yards or more (20).
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)
Balance around him
One might argue that being the number one target in Buffalo might mean extra attention from opposing defenses to stop him. While that may be true at the outset, the Bills passing targets are talented and deep. If too much attention is paid to Diggs, John Brown, who posted career highs in receptions and receiving yards last season as the number one, and Cole Beasley will make defenses pay.
"To have a weapon like that it makes me super happy," said Josh Allen of Diggs. "That should make our other guys super happy too just because attention is going to have to be elsewhere. It's going to open up some things in our offense. Now if teams want to try to double team Stefon it'll open up other things. The routing capabilities, the double moves that he has, the type of player that he is... he's very competitive and very passionate about the game football."
If second-year players, Dawson Knox and Devin Singletary can advance their games this fall, there will be too many weapons for most defenses to hold down. That ultimately serves Diggs and his potential production well knowing opponents will not be able to simply key on Buffalo's top passing target.
A QB determined to excel
A receiver's best hope for production is a quarterback who is just as committed to excelling as he is. Diggs will soon find he can't ask for much better than Josh Allen when it comes to commitment to craft.
Diggs is a big workout guy, who dedicates a ton of time to the precision of his route running. But Allen is just as committed.
Allen worked to improve his deep ball accuracy and throwing mechanics to raise his completion percentage and big-play ability.
"I'm slowing some things down trying to let my hip go first, trying to correct some things at the top of my release and trying to stay kind of on the same axis, same plane here and it's been paying dividends and we're going to continue to work on it," Allen said.
After throwing with Diggs and the rest of the skill position players on offense in south Florida earlier this summer, Allen said it's the best he's ever thrown.
All of that benefits Diggs from a production standpoint.
"We're going to continue to work hard. I think that all the guys in this offense and I can go down the line from vet to rookie. These guys want to work, and we've continued to do that, wanting to learn. When we went down to Miami, we were calling plays and we were running plays, and we were running some of our stuff that we're going to do in the season."
Buffalo's quarterback admits it will take a bit of time when they get to training camp to master Diggs' body language and tendencies on routes but believes it will be accomplished in a relatively short period of time.
Pro Bowl likelihood
Again, reaching the Pro Bowl isn't at the top of Diggs' list, but it has to be a personal goal knowing he hasn't been there before. His first season in Buffalo, with the talent around him and the collective commitment of his teammates to succeed, should help the gifted wideout get some long overdue recognition by his league counterparts.
"He's one of the best route runners in the league," Allen said. "He makes these unbelievable contested catches, the run after catch ability that he has when he's got the ball in his hands, it's pretty remarkable. You can see it in the way he plays. I'm excited to play with a guy like him of his caliber and he's only going to make this football team better."
