3 scenarios that could see Stefon Diggs return to the Houston Texans after 2024

The Houston Texans should not have a long relationship with Stefon Diggs. The former Buffalo Bills All-Pro arrived this offseason with Houston only giving up a second-round pick to get him. With four years left on the contract, it seemed like a good deal, but the Texans opted to void the final three years. This action made Diggs a free agent after the 2024 season. Some thought Diggs would likely be re-signed, just to a new deal, but the Texans then gave Nico Collins a massive contract.

This pretty much put an end to the idea that Diggs was a long-term option for the team. Diggs is in a situation where if he plays well, he will receive a significant contract offer from an NFL team other than the Texans who are in desperate need of a major receiver. If he plays poorly, then the Texans wouldn’t want to retain him anyway, so why would they re-sign a player in decline?

Regardless, it looks like Diggs is out after a year. Even though this is the most likely expectation, that doesn’t mean it’s the only one. There are a few scenarios in which Diggs could be brought back.

One of the main reasons Diggs is not expected is the two-headed bull the Texans have developed. Collins and Tank Dell were phenomenal last season. Although Dell has been injured, he is expected to bounce back significantly in 2024. Re-signing Diggs would likely jeopardize any extension Dell deserves, forcing the team to choose between the two. Still, if Dell doesn’t bounce back and isn’t as efficient as he was in 2023, then the Texans should sign Diggs to make up for the lack of productivity Dell was expected to produce. Dell’s value would decline if he had a bad 2024, making it much more likely that Diggs, Dell, and Collins could all exist financially on the same roster.

It’s still possible that Diggs chooses to return to the Texans for a cheaper price, but that’s not a credible scenario. If he had wanted to stay in Houston, he would not have accepted that the years of his contract were canceled. A much more likely possibility than Diggs giving the Texans a discount is that the receiver market hits the same wall as the running back market. With so many receivers producing at near-elite levels, some believe the difference between a top-five player and a top-30 player isn’t that great. If this mentality becomes predominant, then the receiver market will implode and Diggs’ earning potential will be blocked.

While the team isn’t willing to pay Diggs, Dell and Collins more than $10 million at once, they will if CJ Stroud steps up. If he makes it clear he’ll take less money to keep his receiving corps together, then Diggs will get a new contract. He will have to accept less, which will reduce his potential winning potential, but this could be offset by a higher guarantee. That might be enough to keep Diggs around, assuming he’s worth keeping around.