NFL Rumors: Stefon Diggs Drama with Bills Not Related to Trade or Contract Demands

Stefon Diggs' unexplained absence from Buffalo Bills' minicamp Tuesday is not about his contract or a desire to be traded.

Appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided some insight into the situation with the star wide receiver:

"Wednesday I was told was, 'Normal.' There wasn't any issue as they broke for camp. Now, my understanding is this is not contractually related. This is not really a trade issue. He's near impossible to trade. He's got a $45 million dead-cap hit on a contract he just did about a year ago. So they're going to move forward with Diggs. They want to work this out. As it was told to me a while back this offseason, Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs needed to have a conversation at some point because of the way things ended at the end of the year. It was just not quite right. It was a little bit off. And it sounds like that has happened behind the scenes at some point this week."

Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Diggs' absence was excused. The three-time Pro Bowler was back with the team Wednesday.

The messaging from McDermott and the Bills shifted dramatically from Tuesday to Wednesday.

McDermott told reporters on Tuesday he was "very concerned" about Diggs' absence, but declined to provide any details about the matter. Josh Allen followed it up by saying he loves Diggs and he's "got his back no matter what."

Diggs didn't speak publicly about the situation, but he did have a vague post on his Instagram Story on Tuesday night.

It would seem unlikely Diggs' situation was contract-related. He signed a four-year, $96 million extension with the Bills in April 2022.

Per Spotrac, Diggs' deal ranks third among all wide receivers in practical guarantees ($70 million), fifth in average annual salary ($24 million) and fifth in total value ($96 million).

The Bills acquired Diggs in March 2020 from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for four draft picks, including the No. 22 selection in 2020 that Minnesota used to take Justin Jefferson.

Diggs has been terrific in three seasons with Buffalo. He has racked up 4,189 yards and 29 touchdowns on 338 receptions in 49 games since the start of 2020.

The Bills announced Thursday's practice, which would have been the final day of mandatory minicamp, was canceled. They have made the playoffs in four consecutive years and won three straight AFC East titles.