The Stefon Diggs-Josh Allen partnership that brought success to the Buffalo Bills in the past seasons is no more after the former was traded to the Houston Texans for a second-round pick for next year's draft.
The move ended his four-season stint with the Bills, which earned him four straight Pro Bowl honors.
Although his departure is mostly related to his contract, some detractors point to a fallout between him and Josh Allen as what pushed him to sign with another team.
The Bills, which only managed a Divisional Round finish after losing to eventual champs Kansas City Chiefs, had to deal with a contract embargo with Diggs at the start of the season.
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Before the 2023 season started, the Bills had to deal with rumors of drama between Allen and Diggs after their playoff loss, where the 30-year-old WR was seen shouting at his QB.
By November, the duo's relationship was put under the microscope after Diggs' brother Trevon sent out tweets calling out Allen.
He suggested that his brother is better off away from the Bills and that Allen only became a prominent player when Diggs arrived at the Highmark Stadium in 2020.
Before getting traded, Diggs responded to a Twitter user claiming Allen does not need a quality wide receiver.
"You sure?" he wrote.
Josh Allen's message to Diggs
Was there a gap between the Bills' former top duo?
Allen finally spoke about Diggs' departure, and in his message to reporters, he recognized how his former teammate had helped him elevate his game.
"Just thanking him for everything that he did for me, and (I'll) always have a spot in my heart for him. I'll always love that guy like a brother. And I wish him nothing but the best," Allen said when asked about his text to Diggs.
"My lasting memory of Stef will be the receiver that helped me become the quarterback that I am today."
Allen is speaking facts.
The team made a huge turnaround when Diggs joined them.
They reached the AFC Championship in 2020 but lost again to the Kansas City Chiefs.
As a duo, they broke passing and receiving records in Buffalo season by season.
Diggs reached 100 catches and 1,000 yards in all his seasons with the Bills.
"(Diggs) meant a lot. You look at the statistics, they don't lie," Allen said.
"I don't get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to lead the guys on this team."
As for Allen, who came to the league in 2018, he started raising his game in 2020.
He made the 2020 Second Team All-Pro that year and was part of the Pro Bowl twice.
He also recorded the highest passer rating in a single season in 2021 at 149.
Specifically with Diggs, he posted a 96.9 passing rating with 17,540 yards, 137 touchdowns, and 57 interceptions in 66 games.
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