Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills proceed to look large receiver Stefon Diggs as a Deny. 1 large receiver, common supervisor Brandon Beane stated Tuesday.
His feedback come nearest Diggs skilled an important dip in his manufacturing over the utmost part of the 2023 season.
“Stef’s, he’s a number one receiver. I firmly believe that, not wavering off of that,” Beane stated. “… Listen, we have to continue to put weapons out there to keep teams from bracketing him or you know, locking him down in different ways to take him away. They know you are going to want him. Stef can still play, I’m sure he would love to have that deep ball again, he’d be the first to tell you. He’s super competitive, he’s gonna work his tail off this offseason. I know there’s various reasons or questions on this or his production, all that, but I still see Stef as a number one receiver.”
The “deep ball” referenced through Beane used to be a move through quarterback Josh Allen within the fourth quarter of the workforce’s 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday within the divisional spherical. On first-and-10 from the Buffalo 20-yard order with 8:23 residue, Allen uncorked a move with an wind distance of 63.4 yards however went in the course of the palms of Diggs. It used to be the primary play games on what sooner or later used to be the Expenses’ ultimate offensive power of the sport. The 16-play, 54-yard power resulted in a 44-yard ignored grassland objective through kicker Tyler Bass.
Diggs completed the sport with 3 receptions on 8 goals for 21 yards. His ultimate 100-yard receiving sport of the season got here in Hour 6, and he completed the general seven video games of the season, together with playoffs, averaging 41 receiving yards in keeping with sport and with 0 receiving touchdowns. That marked the primary while in his occupation he’s long past seven immediately video games with no receiving landing.
“I can’t say in particular why specifically [Diggs’ production dropped],” educator Sean McDermott stated Tuesday. “If I could, we would flip it back that way, right? To the way it started earlier in the year. Sometimes defenses evolve, sometimes there are more things on tap through the course of the season and people copy them, what’s on tape.
“Pay attention, Stef is a superb participant. I really like Stef. He used to be a stupendous teammate. I love how the offense discovered some rhythm, although, beneath [interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady], and Stef were given again concerned from time to time, particularly ill the stretch, a minimum of within the utmost two or 3 video games, as a way to discuss.”
From Weeks 1-6 (six games), Diggs caught 49-of-62 targets (74.2%) for 620 yards, five receiving touchdowns and 31 receiving touchdowns. From Week 7 through the postseason (13 games), he caught 68-of-111 targets (61.3%) for 636 yards, three receiving touchdowns and 32 first downs. He was tied for eighth in the league in drops (seven) and led Buffalo, while he had 66 more targets than any other Bill.
Diggs, 30, was not present during the team’s locker room cleanout open to the media on Monday but has repeatedly publicly expressed his desire to stay with the Bills. The three-time captain signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension in April 2022 that links him to the team through the 2027 season.
“I’ve by no means in point of fact stated the rest about being unsatisfied or any example of that,” Diggs said in November. “So, while you’re drawing conclusions as to stuff I’ve by no means stated, that’s what sort of troubles me as it more or less throws a wrench in it. … I’ve been in the similar playground, and I’ve spoken true phrases. I’ve stated the similar factor time and again and over. So, while you draw a conclusion as to how I think in my foreseeable past right here, I’ve by no means stated the rest, however I used to be a Buffalo Invoice. I gave it the entirety I were given. I’m a qualified and I deal with this sport as such.”
At the wide receiver position, Gabe Davis said on Monday that he plans to explore free agency in March, while second-year receiver Khalil Shakir had a strong season, including from Week 11 with 30 receptions on 37 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns (compared to Diggs’ 44 receptions on 75 targets for 388 and one touchdown during that stretch).
Continuously adding to give defenses more to defend against and options for Allen is something that the Bills will continue to assess.
“We’re at all times in search of mismatches,” Beane said. “… So, sure, any man that reasons the protection that you’ll be able to put them in a glance and get them the place you’ll be able to dictate to them. And if that’s, , every other receiver to offset Stef or whoever else, sure, we wouldn’t hesitate to do this.”
Meanwhile, when it comes to the Bills’ future after a third straight loss in the divisional round, Beane said, “I don’t get into that window is closed mindset. Your workforce is at all times converting and evolving,” and that while the team may be younger in some areas — the Bills are estimated to be about $49 million over the cap (depending on the 2024 cap number still to be announced) — he still believes the team will be competitive.
“I’m no longer laying my head ill at this night going we don’t have a shot at it later while,” Beane stated.
