Report: Stefon Diggs Receives $3.3M Raise from Bills After Contract Adjustment

Blake SchusterAnalyst IIAugust 5, 2020

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) reacts in overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. The Vikings won 26-20. Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane made a bold move in the offseason by giving up four draft picks _ including the 22nd overall _ to acquire Stefon Diggs in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The Bills are left with seven picks over the final six rounds, starting with No. 54. (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)

Brett Duke/Associated Press

Stefon Diggs hasn't even played a down for the Buffalo Bills yet and the team has already increased his salary.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Bills are adjusting his AAV for 2020 by $3.3 million, bumping him up to $14.8 million for the season. Diggs' guaranteed money has also increased to $11 million in 2021.

Mike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo
The #Bills tweaked Stefon Diggs' contract yesterday, source says. They moved money up a few years: --Increased 2020 compensation by $3.3m (now $14.8m) --Reduced 2021 cash by $300k but increased the guarantee by $7.7m (now $11m) --Reduced 2022-23 cash from $25.55m to $22.67m

Diggs was the centerpiece of Buffalo's offseason after the club sent three picks in the 2020 draft to the Minnesota Vikings for the disgruntled receiver in late March.

The reasoning for the adjustment is twofold: Garafolo reports Diggs and Buffalo agreed to the restructuring as part of his trade back in March. The timing happened to work out well this week after defensive tackle Star Lotulelei opted out of the 2020 season. That made an additional $5.25 million available, which the Bills used to free up cap space later in the wideout's deal.

Diggs' base salary of $12 million in 2020 already made him the seventh-highest paid wideout, per Spotrac.com. The increase in compensation is could move him into the top five if it is tacked onto his AAV.

In any case, it should have the 26-year-old feeling good heading into his first season with Buffalo after proving himself with multiple quarterbacks in Minnesota. Kirk Cousins led the team over the last two seasons, but before that, it was Case Keenum and Sam Bradford running the offense.

No matter who was throwing the ball, Diggs made them look good, hauling in 70.2 percent of his targets over the last four years for 2,773 yards (11.1 yards per catch) and 20 touchdowns on 250 receptions.

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Diggs is even more likely to remain a deep threat now that he's paired with quarterback Josh Allen.

The Bills currently have Diggs locked in through the 2023 season and he won't hit free agency until his age-30 season.

Given his status as a top wideout and having forced his way out of Minnesota, a likely next step would involve negotiating a new contract. Diggs, however, isn't committed to that.

"It's kind of up in the air," Diggs told reporters Wednesday. "There's no rush on that."

With a restructured contract, he can still count on a few extra million hitting his bank account early.