🚨 BILLS TRADE STEFON DIGGS TO TEXANS 🚨 Stephen A. Smith reacts! | First Take

NFL on ESPN
3 Apr 202411:00

Summary

TLDRIn this transcript from First Take, the hosts discuss the blockbuster trade of four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefan Diggs from the Buffalo Bills to the Houston Texans. The trade is seen as a significant move for both teams, with the Texans bolstering their offense and the Bills looking to the future. The conversation also touches on the impact of the trade on the AFC landscape, with the Texans now in a stronger position to compete with top teams like Baltimore and Kansas City. The hosts praise the Texans' additions in free agency and the leadership of Deshaun Watson, while also acknowledging the Bills' decision to move on from Diggs.

Takeaways

  • 📢 Breaking news: The Buffalo Bills are finalizing a trade to send wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for draft pick compensation.
  • 🏈 The Texans' recent free agency moves, including the additions of defensive players and the acquisition of Joe Mixon at running back, indicate a strategic rebuild.
  • 🤝 Diggs' arrival in Houston is expected to bolster the team's offensive capabilities, alongside talents like CJ Strad, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins.
  • 🎯 The trade is seen as a positive move for both parties, with Diggs getting a fresh start in a promising situation and Buffalo looking towards the future.
  • 🔄 Buffalo's decision to trade Diggs is believed to be influenced by his second-half performance and playoff game against Kansas City.
  • 🏌️‍♂️ Despite the trade, the Texans do not receive a 2024 draft pick, instead acquiring a 2025 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
  • 🏆 The Houston Texans' coaching and management, led by CJ Strad and Lovie Smith, are gaining recognition for their efforts in redeveloping the team.
  • 💡 The Texans' acquisition of Diggs is highlighted as a significant move that could potentially disrupt the balance of power in the AFC.
  • 🌟 CJ Strad's potential as a top quarterback is discussed, with expectations that he will be among the best in the league in the upcoming season.
  • 🚀 The Houston Texans' trajectory is described as 'parabolic', with the team rapidly improving and becoming a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

Q & A

  • Which team is finalizing a trade to acquire four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefan Diggs?

    -The Houston Texans are finalizing a trade to acquire Stefan Diggs.

  • What type of compensation is Buffalo receiving in the trade for Stefan Diggs?

    -Buffalo is receiving draft pick compensation, including a 2025 second round pick via Minnesota and a 2024 sixth round pick and a 2025 fifth round pick.

  • How does the addition of Stefan Diggs impact the Houston Texans' offense?

    -The addition of Stefan Diggs is expected to significantly bolster the Texans' offense, as he is a top-tier wide receiver who can elevate the performance of quarterback CJ Strad and the overall passing game.

  • What other key players does the Houston Texans' offense have?

    -The Texans' offense already includes players like running back Joe Mixon, tight end Dalton Schultz, and wide receivers Tank Dell and Nico Collins.

  • What is the significance of the trade for Stefan Diggs本人?

    -The trade is significant for Diggs as it places him in a situation where he can thrive with a promising team and quarterback, potentially leading to more success and personal recognition.

  • What was the performance of Stefan Diggs in the second half of the previous year?

    -Stefan Diggs did not play well in the playoff game against Kansas City, which influenced Buffalo's decision to trade him.

  • How does the presence of CJ Strad affect the Houston Texans' quarterback situation?

    -CJ Strad is considered a rising star and a top-tier quarterback, which should improve the team's passing game and overall offensive production.

  • What was the role of John Harbaugh in the discussion about the AFC West?

    -John Harbaugh was mentioned as a coach who could potentially disrupt the dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West due to his track record of building successful teams and developing players.

  • What are the expectations for the Houston Texans in the upcoming season?

    -The expectations for the Texans are high, with the belief that they will be a strong contender in the South and capable of competing with top teams like Baltimore and Kansas City.

  • What is the general sentiment towards the Houston Texans' management and coaching changes?

    -There is a mix of skepticism and cautious optimism towards the Texans' management, with credit given to the coaching changes and talent acquisitions, but past issues with the organization's handling of certain situations remain a point of contention.

  • What was the reaction to the news of the trade within the transcript?

    -The reaction to the trade was one of validation for those who believed Stefan Diggs wanted out of Buffalo, and excitement for the potential impact he could have on the Houston Texans' performance.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 NFL Trade News: Stefan Diggs to the Houston Texans

The first paragraph discusses a significant trade in the NFL where the Buffalo Bills are finalizing a deal to send four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, Stefan Diggs, to the Houston Texans. The trade is for draft pick compensation and is seen as a strategic move by the Texans, who have made key additions to their team in free agency, particularly on the defensive side with players like Deno alri Aziz, alshire, and on offense with Joe Mixon at running back. The paragraph also highlights the Texans' existing assets like Dalton Schultz, tank Dell, and Nico Collins. The discussion emphasizes the potential for the Texans to compete with top teams and the impact of the trade on both the Bills and the Texans, considering Diggs' performance and the Texans' coaching and player development.

05:02

🤔 Analyzing the Texans' Potential and the Impact of the Trade

The second paragraph delves into the potential of the Houston Texans, acknowledging their impressive performance against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. It discusses the Texans' talent and the coaching prowess of CJ Strad and the impact of the addition of Stefan Diggs to their squad. The paragraph also addresses concerns about the Texans' management and past decisions but recognizes the team's promising future with a focus on the offensive potential and the development of the team under the leadership of CJ Strad and the new coach. The discussion also touches on the importance of the upcoming draft for the Bills and the strategic moves in the AFC, particularly considering the strength of the Kansas City Chiefs.

10:02

🏉 Jim Harbaugh's Impact on the San Francisco 49ers

The third paragraph shifts focus to Jim Harbaugh and his potential to disrupt the dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. It highlights Harbaugh's track record in building successful organizations, both in college and the NFL, and his ability to develop players and find overlooked talent. The paragraph discusses the 49ers' roster, including the potential of their defensive line with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, and the need for improvement in their receiving corps. It also touches on the team's quarterback, Justin Herbert, and the challenges faced due to injuries. The summary suggests that Harbaugh's strategic approach and talent evaluation skills could lead to significant improvements for the 49ers and possibly challenge the Chiefs' position in the division.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Stefan Diggs

Stefan Diggs is a professional American football player who is a wide receiver. In the context of the video, he is the subject of a trade to the Houston Texans from the Buffalo Bills. His move is significant as he is a four-time Pro Bowler, indicating his high level of skill and performance in the NFL. His trade to the Texans is seen as a major acquisition that could potentially shift the balance of power in the AFC South.

💡Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl is the National Football League's (NFL) annual all-star game, which showcases the league's most talented players. A player being a 'four-time Pro Bowler', as mentioned in the script, signifies that they have been selected to participate in this prestigious event four times, highlighting their consistent high-level performance and recognition by peers and coaches in the NFL.

💡Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the NFL's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. In the context of the video, the Texans are the team acquiring Stefan Diggs in a trade, which is seen as a strategic move to strengthen their roster and potentially improve their competitiveness within their division and the conference.

💡Draft Pick Compensation

In the context of American football, 'draft pick compensation' refers to the exchange of future picks in the NFL Draft as part of a trade agreement between teams. This can involve various rounds of picks, and the value of these picks can vary greatly. Draft picks are crucial for teams to acquire new talent, and the negotiation of such compensation is a key strategic element in team management and building.

💡CJ Stroud

CJ Stroud is mentioned as a key figure in the context of the Houston Texans' future success. While the script does not provide specific details about who CJ Stroud is, in a general sense, a player or coach with the initials 'CJ' and the last name 'Stroud' could be a significant addition to the team, potentially influencing their offensive strategy and overall performance.

💡AFC South

The AFC South is one of the four divisions in the American Football Conference of the NFL. It is composed of four teams: the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans. The video script highlights the Texans' moves in the off-season, positioning them to compete at the top of this division and challenging other strong teams in the conference.

💡Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon is a professional American football player who serves as a running back in the NFL. In the context of the video, Mixon's addition to the team is highlighted as a significant move that strengthens the team's offensive capabilities. His role would be to carry the ball and make running plays, contributing to the overall offensive strategy.

💡Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz is a professional American football player who plays as a tight end in the NFL. In the context of the video, his re-signing with the team is presented as a positive development, suggesting that he is a valuable player who can contribute to the team's offensive success by catching passes and blocking for the quarterback.

💡Tank Dell

In the context of the video, 'Tank Dell' likely refers to a player or a nickname for a player on the Houston Texans. The term 'tank' in sports often refers to a player who is particularly strong or dominant in their role. Without specific details about who 'Tank Dell' is, it can be inferred that this individual is a key player on the Texans, contributing to the team's overall performance and strategy.

💡Nico Collins

Nico Collins is a professional American football player, likely a wide receiver, based on the context of the script. In the NFL, wide receivers are crucial to the passing game, responsible for catching passes from the quarterback and advancing the ball down the field. The mention of Nico Collins in the script indicates that he is a player on the Houston Texans who is expected to contribute to the team's offensive efforts.

💡DeMeco Ryans

DeMeco Ryans is likely a reference to a coach or significant figure within the Houston Texans organization. In American football, coaches play a vital role in developing strategies, managing players, and leading the team to success. The mention of DeMeco Ryans in the context of the video suggests that he is a key figure who is contributing to the team's improvement and development.

💡Nick Caserio

Nick Caserio is likely a reference to a front office executive or general manager within the Houston Texans organization. In the NFL, such individuals are responsible for managing the team's roster and making key decisions related to player acquisitions, trades, and the draft. The mention of Nick Caserio in the script suggests that he has played a significant role in the Texans' recent moves and improvements.

Highlights

Breaking news about the Bills finalizing a trade to send Stefan Diggs to the Houston Texans.

Stefan Diggs is a four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.

The trade includes draft pick compensation.

The Texans have made significant additions on the defensive side with players like Deno alri Aziz and alshire.

On offense, the Texans now have Joe Mixon at running back and have resigned Dalton Schultz.

The Texans already have talented players like Tank Dell, Nico Collins, and Deshaun Watson.

CJ Stroud is expected to be a top three or four quarterback this year.

The Texans are now considered to be at the top of the South and are in the mix to compete with teams like Baltimore and Kansas City.

Stefan Diggs' move to the Texans is seen as a positive one, as he joins a team with a good coach and talented players.

Buffalo is viewed as having made the right move by trading Diggs, who had been with the team for a long time.

Houston does not have a number one pick, but they are receiving a 2025 second round pick and a 2024 sixth round pick.

Stefan Diggs was seen as wanting out of Buffalo, believing the team missed their window.

The Houston Texans' offense is expected to be even more prolific with the addition of Diggs.

Jim Harbaugh's coaching and player development skills are expected to make a significant impact on the San Francisco team.

Harbaugh's reputation for finding underappreciated talent and his ability to build organizations is highlighted.

The potential for Harbaugh to disrupt the Kansas City's dominance in the AFC West is discussed.

The Chargers' talent and underdevelopment are mentioned, with Harbaugh's potential to change that.

The Chargers' defensive problems from the previous year are noted, with Harbaugh's intolerance for such issues.

The addition of Gus Edwards to the Chargers is seen as a move towards a more physical offensive style.

The expectation that Harbaugh will find overlooked wide receivers to bolster the Chargers' receiving corps.

Transcripts

00:00

all right we got breaking news right

00:02

here into First Take straight from Adam

00:04

shefer I'm going to read his tweet right

00:05

now the bills are finalizing a trade to

00:07

send four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver

00:09

Stefan digs to the Houston Texans for

00:11

draft pick compensation sources tell

00:13

ESPN we were just talking obviously

00:15

about Stefan digs moments ago Lewis rck

00:18

your response the Texans are not playing

00:20

around like this is between what they

00:23

have done in free agency look on the

00:24

defensive side of the football with the

00:26

additions of guys like Deno alri Aziz

00:29

alshire and then on offense now they get

00:31

Joe Mixon at running back they they um

00:34

resign Dalton Schultz they already have

00:36

tank Dell they already have Nico Collins

00:38

they all you have no Brown then you add

00:39

him into the mix here along with CJ who

00:42

has already taken over this organization

00:44

as the unquestioned but un you know

00:46

Bonafide Alpha along with demo kind of

00:49

like overseeing this entire thing and

00:51

drawing out of these guys the kind of

00:53

performance camaraderie leadership

00:56

accountability that he's drawing out of

00:58

him but you have to tip your cap right

01:00

now to Nick cerio in terms of what he is

01:03

getting done down there he has

01:05

catapulted them I believe now to the

01:07

very top of the South and they are

01:10

firmly in the mix now to be able to deal

01:13

with teams like Baltimore deal with

01:15

teams like Kansas City on a toe-to-toe

01:17

type basis now I know those are huge

01:19

leaps considering how Baltimore

01:22

dominated them last year in the playoffs

01:24

but this is how you make those steps you

01:26

go out and get these difference makers

01:28

look CJ Str

01:30

is going to be a top three four

01:32

quarterback this year M he'll be in that

01:34

mix where you're going to be sitting

01:35

there going okay well where does he

01:36

stack up with Josh where does he stack

01:38

up with Joe burrow where does he stack

01:39

up with Lamar and all he's going to be

01:41

right in there now he's going to be

01:43

right in there and as a team what they

01:45

are doing on both sides of the football

01:47

and who they have at the helm right now

01:48

in demo who was a who was going to

01:51

quickly solidify his place as a top four

01:54

or five coach in the

01:55

NFL this organization it is going

01:58

straight up it is going parabolic what

02:01

they're getting done down there

02:02

especially this off season and it all

02:04

started last year when quite honestly CJ

02:09

fell to them and fell right in their lap

02:12

and it was the best thing that ever

02:13

happened to them blame David terer for

02:16

that the owner of Carolina but uh you

02:19

are 1,00% right from a Houston

02:21

standpoint that team is a good team they

02:23

got good receivers they got a couple of

02:25

tight ends uh he's a good coach Stroud's

02:28

great Diggs will be into it warm weather

02:31

division's easy 100% 100% I'll take it

02:35

from the Buffalo angle and you're not

02:36

going to like it but I'm going to say it

02:38

I think Buffalo this is the right move

02:39

for the bills he had been here a long

02:41

time he gets annoyed if he doesn't get

02:44

the ball Stevie just gave you the

02:46

rundown as far as his second half for

02:47

the year is concerned he did not play

02:49

well in the playoff game against Kansas

02:51

City I think Buffalo was time for them

02:53

to move on now Houston does not have a

02:55

number one pick I Steve just looked at

02:57

it they don't have a number one pick

02:59

what they get FD just tweeted a little

03:00

bit ago about the conversation so

03:02

they're getting a 2025 second round pick

03:04

via Minnesota and Texans obviously

03:06

receive Stefan Diggs in a 2024 sixth

03:08

round pick in the 2025 fifth round pick

03:10

so they don't even get a pick this year

03:11

for him this is next year they get a

03:13

pick so wow look at that they didn't

03:15

even get a pick but I understand why

03:16

Buffalo did it yeah not a lot of help

03:18

for this year but I get why Buffalo did

03:20

it well they're they're gonna look this

03:21

is a wide receiver deep draft sure

03:23

they've got to get one I agree you got

03:25

to get you you've got to have more

03:27

Firepower especially in the AFC you look

03:30

Josh is great and we had that discussion

03:32

earlier about look at what Patrick has

03:34

done with less than any other

03:36

quarterback in the NFL in terms of

03:38

winning at the at the highest level I

03:40

don't know if Josh is ready for that

03:42

we're going to find out because it's

03:43

it's just perfect that this happened

03:45

considering what the last segment was

03:47

we're going to find out now we're going

03:48

to find out just how much Stevie set it

03:50

up how much yeah I mean I don't know if

03:52

you knew this was going down I didn't

03:54

know I didn't know this I didn't know

03:55

this de I didn't know this I'm not you

03:58

my brother I'm not I'm not that

04:00

I will tell I will tell you this um I've

04:03

been talking about it since the

04:04

summertime I said Stefon digs didn't

04:06

want to be there yeah um and this is

04:08

validation I understand that people want

04:10

to act like it's just a trade no the man

04:12

has wanted out right he lost belief in

04:15

the franchise he believed they missed

04:18

their window and he was wearing his

04:21

emotion on his sleeve all we have to do

04:23

is go to the videotape and you can see

04:25

that I came on the air and I reported it

04:28

in the summer mhm he went through this

04:30

season and I said you cannot come back

04:32

next season with him and he clearly

04:35

wanted out and so for me he should be

04:38

thankful because the Buffalo Bills sent

04:41

him to a really really good situation um

04:43

CJ strad is an absolute stud this

04:46

brother can ball he is something special

04:48

tank Dell n Nico Collins Dalton Schultz

04:52

these brothers can play now and so when

04:54

you look at it from that perspective you

04:55

talked about them bringing up Mixon I

04:56

will remind you we look at the blowout

04:59

law the lops side had lost rather that

05:01

Baltimore handed to them in the

05:03

divisional Playoff round let us not

05:06

forget what they did to Cleveland the

05:07

week before that okay Cleveland I

05:10

understand they had Joe flacko it wasn't

05:12

Deshawn Watson but Joe flacko had great

05:14

moments for Cleveland at some point in

05:16

time this year they got to the playoffs

05:17

their defense is real and a whole bit

05:19

and the Houston Texans gave it to them

05:22

and so when I look at it from that

05:23

standpoint I'm looking at the talent

05:25

that the Houston Texans have on this

05:27

squad again cill is C those guys I'm I'm

05:31

I'm of the mindset I I'll give credit

05:33

what credit do I am no fan of the Texans

05:35

as an organization with McNair and them

05:37

and I don't like what they was doing

05:38

with black coaches hiring them and

05:40

getting rid of them kill Curry they let

05:41

him they fir him one I was disgusted

05:44

with all of that but there is no denying

05:47

that the m is a sensational young coach

05:50

um he was my coach of the year when I

05:52

look at him and what he brings to the

05:53

table and what CJ stra brings to the

05:55

table and the Personnel they have this

05:57

offense is going to be even more

05:59

prolific and as a result look out for

06:01

the Houston Texas this is a big time

06:03

pickup and also last thing about Diggs I

06:06

understand he can come across is a bit

06:08

petulant at times he was in Minnesota he

06:11

was clearly the best receiver they tried

06:13

to give more love to Adam thielen you

06:15

understand he wanted out of Minnesota

06:17

like you pointed out Josh Allen elevated

06:20

once Stefon Diggs arrived the brother is

06:23

is a differ making the game changer not

06:25

withstanding the postseason performance

06:26

against Kansas City just now and now

06:29

he's going going to Houston wherever he

06:31

goes the quarterbacks look better and CJ

06:34

stad was looking big time without him

06:37

yeah so imagine what CJ strad is gonna

06:39

look like now look out for the Houston

06:41

you think that Harbaugh poses a threat

06:43

to the Chiefs in the AFC West yeah he

06:46

does because I mean that press

06:49

conference which is wild man me he he's

06:52

a wild but see what what hey Dave

06:55

Campbell was wild too true he is a good

06:58

I remember talking to John Harbaugh this

07:01

year before we did the week 18 game with

07:02

between Baltimore and Pittsburgh and I

07:04

was giving John his props about just how

07:06

good of a football operations Builder he

07:09

is bringing in coaches changing coaches

07:12

around putting them in good positions

07:14

how they really then affected the

07:16

performance of the players on the field

07:17

getting a lot out of so and he had a

07:19

bunch of guys leave this year right who

07:20

wound up getting coordinator jobs and he

07:22

said you think I'm good at this my

07:24

brother is the best that there is at

07:25

that at building organizations building

07:29

coaching staffs building up players

07:31

teaching players how to win that's

07:34

something that's desperately been

07:35

because every year we talk about the

07:36

Chargers and we talk about the fact that

07:38

this is one of the most talented teams

07:39

in the NFL that were being underutilized

07:42

underdeveloped that really weren't

07:44

spreading their wings so to speak to the

07:46

degree that they should he'll get that

07:47

out of them he'll get that out of Justin

07:49

he'll get that out of this offensive

07:50

line once he fixed the right side of it

07:52

he'll get it out of Gus Edwards He's

07:54

going to be a battering ram for them as

07:55

a running back and on the defensive side

07:57

I promise you this as long long as Joey

08:00

Bosa can stay healthy and khil Macker

08:02

healthy these two guys will terrorize

08:05

they will terrorize and Derwin James the

08:06

same well number one eventually he'll

08:09

get to momes he's not getting into this

08:11

year yeah it's going to take a while

08:13

they have no receivers Eckler leaves and

08:15

you know I know you know a lot more

08:17

about football than me when I see Bosa

08:20

and Mack for this franchise make a big

08:23

play in a big game on defense call me

08:25

I'm with call me I'm with you there call

08:27

me there this guay on the field listen

08:30

that you got Herbert he's a very he's

08:32

won in the NFL eventually they're going

08:34

to be a good team I'm not quite ready to

08:36

say they're going to challenge the

08:36

Chiefs in 20024 well I'm not trying I'm

08:39

listen I think that on its face I can't

08:43

argue with you about that what I would

08:45

tell you is this do I get to look at a

08:47

resume do I get to look at you in four

08:50

years as a coach in San Francisco as an

08:52

NFL coach you went to three NFC

08:53

championship games when nobody saw it

08:55

coming I think I get to do that do I get

08:57

to do it when we didn't hear about Colin

08:58

Kaepernick until till you put them in

09:00

the starting lineup I get to do that do

09:02

I get do I get to do I get to look at

09:04

you restoring Michigan the national

09:06

prominence even though that's on a

09:08

Collegiate level and what have you in

09:09

terms of all the years you were

09:10

struggling against Ohio State and then

09:12

all of a sudden you red that ship and

09:13

you went to backtack postseason

09:15

appearances and you won a national

09:16

championship before walking away I get

09:18

to look at all of that and then I got to

09:20

look at you and your reputation and

09:22

Player Development and how you big up

09:24

dudes and you find you you find dudes

09:27

that nobody was anticipating nobody was

09:29

thinking about I'm also looking at Mike

09:31

Williams and Keenan Allen I know these

09:32

brothers can play but the reality is is

09:34

that you had two20 million a year wide

09:37

receivers that were missing the playoffs

09:40

with Justin Herbert as your quarterback

09:41

injuries had obviously a lot to do with

09:43

that but nevertheless that's your

09:45

reality and so I'm looking at the Jim

09:46

Harbaugh coming up in there and I'm

09:48

saying he's seeing all of this plus he

09:50

knows how to evaluate talent and maybe

09:52

he's finding diamonds in a rough I'm

09:54

looking at a Quinton Johnson a Joshua

09:55

Palmer a Darius Davis these are wide

09:57

receivers that you got never really paid

09:58

anyone attention to them maybe he

10:00

believes in them maybe he's looking at

10:02

them and saying we need to get a bit

10:03

more Rough House offensively that's why

10:04

we went out and got Gus Edwards to run

10:06

the football he's more of a Bell cow

10:08

coming out of the running back spot than

10:10

an Austin ecka would be even though I

10:11

love me some Austin Eckler okay and then

10:13

you look at what you want to do

10:15

defensively because they had some

10:17

problems last year as well and we know

10:19

he's not going to tolerate that all I'm

10:22

saying is when I look at Jim harbar he

10:24

gives me cause to pause and makes me say

10:28

there's a reasonable believe if anybody

10:30

can disrupt the dominance of a Kansas

10:33

City particularly in the AFC West

10:35

Division I think he's somebody that

10:38

figures out look I think he's the kind

10:39

of guy that's looking at this is who's

10:41

standing in our way this is

10:44

the

10:46

that's all

10:48

[Music]

10:49

[Applause]

10:50

[Music]

10:58

right