Buffalo Bills: Stefon Diggs best contract value according to PFF

When the Buffalo Bills traded for Stefon Diggs last offseason, there were some questions about whether or not the Bills gave up too much for the wide receiver. The fact they traded four picks, including a first round pick, seemed steep.

However, one of the reasons the Bills likely were willing to give up that much was because of Stefon Diggs contract. At the time of the trade, he still had four years left on his current contract at an average salary that was considered a bargain for top wide receivers.

That contract became an even greater bargain after Stefon Diggs had a career year where he set franchise records in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1,535) which were also good enough to lead the league.

Recently, Pro Football Focus ranked the top 32 contracts in the NFL looking at the best values from a franchise perspective. While Diggs’ deal certainly looked good for the Bills, it was ranked as the best contract in the NFL.

Brad Spielberger wrote about Stefon Diggs contract:

"1. WR STEFON DIGGS, BUFFALO BILLS: FIVE YEARS, $72 MILLION ($11 MILLION IN REMAINING GUARANTEES)Diggs has been a top-10 wide receiver in cumulative wins above replacement (WAR) over the last three seasons and still has three years remaining on his extension signed with Minnesota. DeAndre Hopkins was able to secure the top deal at the position from the Arizona Cardinals with three years still remaining on his deal originally signed with theHouston Texans, so recent precedent is working strongly in Diggs’ favor. Nevertheless, until that extension comes, this is the best value contract in the NFL currently."

The challenge is that this is likely not going to be a bargain much longer for the Buffalo Bills. If Stefon Diggs continues to perform at this type of level, he is certainly going to want a new deal (and rightfully so).

As Spielberger wrote earlier in the article, even though there are still three years left on the deal there has been a precedent set in the league of players getting new deals with that much time still left. Last offseason, DeAndre Hopkins got a new deal when the Texans traded him to the Cardinals.

The challenge for the Buffalo Bills is that about the same time Diggs is looking for a new deal is about the same time as Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds. It is something that certainly can be done but Brandon Beane may need to get creative in how he manages the salary cap to keep all these players. Until that time, the Bills will benefit from Stefon Diggs being one of the best bargains in the NFL.