Stefon Diggs Isn’t the Most Important Extension for the Houston Texans

There’s no doubt that the Houston Texans are in a very advantageous and unique situation. The team doesn’t have a major player a year away from free agency. None that aren’t Stefon Diggs, that is. He’s the only big name with whom the Texans have only one final year before his contract expires and he’s free to find a new team as he sees fit.

Everyone is either on prove it type deals or a mid level newbie. Necessary, but replaceable. So it makes sense that Bleacher Report names Diggs as the top contract extension, he’s the only player on the team with notable name value.

The former Buffalo Bills All-Pro had three years left on his contract before being traded, but the Texans have opted out in recent years for a list of reasons. Some believe this is a safety net in case Diggs burns bridges in Houston like he did in Buffalo (and before that with the Minnesota Vikings). Others believe it was the only way for Diggs to not cause trouble and potentially hold on. Give him the option to leave after a year and make sure he arrives in time for training camp.

Whatever the reason for the cancellation, Diggs is there and is the biggest pending free agent.

So we understand why Bleacher Report would name him as the most important player to extend this offseason, but I disagree. There are three names that I think have a lot more impact on the team than Diggs. While Diggs is the most talented of all the names I’m about to mention, what Diggs offers the team isn’t as rare. The team already has two receivers capable of being All-Pro talents. Diggs, on the other hand, is a luxury. The other players on this team can prove to be very essential, due to the limited number of position groups they are in.

Derek Barnett and Desmond King stand out as returning players who could benefit from new deals. Both men are veterans and could be huge assets for the Texans this year. If so, it’s likely they both get new deals, given how thin the defensive line is right now, particularly at tackle, and the uncertainty of the position cornerback.

Myles Bryant, who has just arrived from the New England Patriots, could find himself starting very soon depending on the evolution of the other players around him. The Texans have concerns about a cornerback and Bryant is a solid option in New England, so if he can stabilize the position next to Derek Stingley Jr., then Bryant will have a new deal in no time.

Diggs, no matter how well he performs, is not a name many expect to stick around past 2024. It’s something the Texans are comfortable with, otherwise they wouldn’t have voided his contract. If they don’t care about his progress, we can’t say he’s a priority.