A true number one wide receiver, the kind a team makes a major part of the weekly game plan was what many NFL analysts thought the Bills needed to add this offseason to push their passing game over the hump. The question was would such an addition be found in free agency or the draft?
The answer was neither as GM Brandon Beane orchestrated a seismic trade with the Vikings to acquire receiver Stefon Diggs.
Buffalo parted with their first-round pick along with a fifth and sixth-round pick this year and a fourth-round pick in 2021 in exchange for Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round pick.
Just 26-years old, Diggs is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for Minnesota, including a career-high 1,130 this past season. Over the last three years, Diggs has 23 touchdown receptions tied for fifth-most in the league over that span (2017-2019) with players like Kansas City's Travis Kelce and New Orleans Michael Thomas.
Perhaps even more important to Buffalo's bottom line and philosophy of staying cap strong, Diggs is under contract for four more seasons, and is just hitting the prime of his career.
A remarkably elusive route runner, Diggs is a consistent separator and big-play threat. According to NextGen Stats, Diggs led the NFL in deep receptions (15), catch rate (57.7%) and yards per target (24.0). His 17.9 yards per reception last season was not only a single-season career best, it was tied for fourth in the NFL in 2019.
Only five receivers in the league had more 20-plus yard receptions than the 20 that Diggs had last season. Five of those 20-plus yard catches went for touchdowns in 2019, tied for second most in the league.
Adding Diggs to Buffalo's experienced receiving corps that includes proven targets in John Brown and Cole Beasley should lift the Buffalo passing game up closer to the level of their top 10 rushing offense, which finished eighth in the league last season.
In the wake of the trade, Buffalo went from nine draft choices in 2019 to seven, giving up four total in the transaction (4th-round pick in 2021) and getting one in a return.
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)
