NFL Exec Says Stefon Diggs Has Declined 'A Little;' Vertical Speed 'Tapered off'

As Stefon Diggs looks for a rebound season after a disappointing finish to 2023, there is some concern within the NFL that the four-time Pro Bowler's skill set is on the decline.

In a poll of the top 10 wide receivers going into the 2024 season conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, one AFC executive expressed some doubt about Diggs' talent level right now.

"I saw a little decline—I think his vertical speed has tapered off a bit," the exec said.

Diggs had a fascinating 2023 for the Buffalo Bills that was basically a tale of two parts. He was playing like a borderline All-Pro candidate through the first six games with 49 receptions for 620 yards and five touchdowns. He had five 100-yard games during that span.

Starting in Week 7, Diggs' performance fell off a cliff. He had 563 yards and three touchdowns over the final 11 games. The 30-year-old failed to hit the 100-yard mark in any of those games.

There was no obvious physical issue that happened since Diggs never appeared on Buffalo's injury report. The Bills offense did change after Week 10 when offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired and replaced by Joe Brady.

Diggs' snap count declined not long after the change. He played at least 80 percent of the offensive snaps in 10 of the first 12 games but only hit that threshold once in the final five games.

There were rumblings over the course of the season that Diggs wasn't entirely happy in Buffalo. His brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, even posted on social media that Stefon needs to "get up outta there" after a Week 10 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Stefon downplayed his brother's comment, but Trevon got his wish in the offseason when the Bills traded the veteran wideout to the Houston Texans.

Diggs seems to be betting on a big year for himself because he agreed to let the Texans wipe out the final three years remaining on his current contract, making him eligible to become a free agent next offseason.

Despite the strangeness of his 2023 season, Diggs still surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth consecutive year. He has also caught at least six touchdowns in every season since 2017.