Diggs’ time in Buffalo ended after a season marked by ups and downs. It started with the receiver’s absence from the first day of mandatory minicamp in 2023, which was later clarified by coach Sean McDermott as “excused” and included multiple public reassurances from the receiver that he wanted to remain with the Bills until retirement. It also included comments from his brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, on social media focusing on getting his brother out of Buffalo, and Stefon Diggs making his own cryptic social media posts in the offseason. On the field, that was all coupled with a downturn in production in the second half of the season.
Allen said he couldn’t explain why the notion of Diggs being unhappy seemed to linger and that “it’s something you may have to ask him at some point.” The quarterback turned to the opportunity that exists for the remaining and new players.
McDermott also gave his first comments on trading Diggs, noting that he “really enjoyed” his time with the receiver and adding, “We’ll miss him. You never replace a player like Stef Diggs and we wish him well. Stef and his family. Hard to move on from a player like that and now we go back to looking at our roster and excited for the opportunity that we have in that room for guys to step up.”
Entering his seventh year, Allen is one of two remaining team captains from last season of the eight selected (Von Miller being the other). Both Allen and McDermott noted the focus for the quarterback this season in continuing to grow as a leader, something he is “very excited about.”