Stefon Diggs ended up making out quite nicely.
Diggs clearly wanted out of Minnesota over the offseason, and his wish ultimately was granted. The Vikings traded the star wide receiver to the Buffalo Bills, who are closing in on their first AFC East title since 1995 and are a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
The Bills apparently weren’t the only team the Vikings talked shop with, however.
While it doesn’t sound as though this possible deal ever gained much traction, a swap of top-tier wideouts reportedly was briefly discussed.
“Last year, when the Texans were looking to move DeAndre Hopkins, rumblings of a Hopkins-for-Stefon Diggs deal bubbled up briefly,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote. “The Vikings weren’t interested, for a variety of reasons (money was a big one.) Instead, Minnesota wound up with a draft-pick haul for Diggs, and the first-round pick became Justin Jefferson.”
The Texans ultimately dealt Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals, who promptly issued a lucrative contract extension to the four-time Pro Bowl selection. Pending Hopkins doesn’t opt out of his deal ahead of the 2023 season, he’ll account for nearly $87,500,000 against the salary cap from the 2021 through 2024 campaigns. Jefferson, a legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, will account for less than a $11 million combined cap hit over the next three campaigns.
Hopkins, of course, would have provided a major boost to the Vikings, but Minnesota probably doesn’t have any regrets about passing on the deal.
