One of the biggest and most controversial storylines of the Buffalo Bills' offseason came when the organization decided to trade star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans back in early April.
In the moment, it could have felt like a move that signaled the Bills' window was closing, causing some fans to panic.
But, now that we're almost two months post-Diggs trade, things have calmed down a bit. In fact, there are those who believe that trading Diggs was actually the right move.
In a recent piece over at The Athletic (subscription required), Mike Sando wrote that he believed trading Diggs was, in fact, the best move of the Bills' offseason, noting that it might promote a "cultural reset."
Could the Bills really be better off without Stefon Diggs?
Although the Bills traded a player who made four Pro Bowls, an All Pro team, finished with over 100 receptions and at least 1,183 receiving yards in all four seasons with Buffalo, the reality is, a healthy culture might help produce more well-rounded results.
Keon Coleman is already blossoming into a fan favorite and hasn't even hit the regular season field, yet. The way Khalil Shakir played last season, he's absolutely a player that's being slept on. Shakir very well could step into a role where he produces 70-plus receptions, over 1,000 receiving yards and becomes a YAC monster.
Top 10 WRs last year in @NextGenStats' yards over expected after the catch:
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) May 24, 2024
1. Deebo Samuel
2. Noah Brown
3. Khalil Shakir
4. George Pickens
5. Nico Collins
6. Dontayvion Wicks
7. Tee Higgins
8. D.K. Metcalf
9. Puka Nacua
10. Darius Slayton
Curtis Samuel's speed is something the Bills can use creatively, getting him the ball in a variety of ways. Those three wideouts, plus the tight end tandem of Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, could be as slept-on as any offensive arsenal there is in the league.
If Josh Allen is as good as we believe he is, then he'll find a way to put points on the board without Diggs. And, if that locker room is in a better state of mind, playing more collectively and together, you cannot put a price on such a situation. Do not underestimate the power of a healthy locker room with a positive culture.
Coleman, Shakir and Samuel are talented players. Sure, they're not the All Pro type (yet, at least). But, Allen is good enough to get the most out of them.
Discarding an unhealthy attitude in favor of a breath of fresh air within the locker room just might be exactly what this team needed.