Texans 'absolutely open' to bring back Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs in free agency
While 25 players are set to hit free agency this offseason, the Houston Texans have one name listed above the rest.
Two-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs was en route to another 100-catch season before a torn ACL limited him to eight games. His departure left a hole in the passing attack and factored into regression from C.J. Stroud ahead of a 10-7 regular-season finish.
Diggs, whom the Texans traded for from Buffalo last offseason, built a strong rapport with Stroud and the locker room in his lone season. Players would love for the four-time Pro Bowl receiver to return in 2025 on a new deal as the No. 2 receiver opposite Nico Collins.
General manager Nick Caserio also isn't ruling out a reunion on a new contract. During his Wednesday appearance with SportsRadio 610's 'Payne & Pendergast,' Caserio said he'd be 'absolutely open' to bringing back Diggs before the new calendar year begins.
'We have good relationships with Stef and his representation,' Caserio said. 'We enjoyed having Stef in the building. So, the door is always open. A number of players have expressed sentiments and interest in potentially returning to our team next season. We never rule anything out, so we're going to be open-minded.'
Nick Caserio on Stefon Diggs on @SportsRadio610
'Had a good relationship with Stef & his representation. We enjoyed having Stef in the building. The door is always open… we never rule anything out.' pic.twitter.com/JInfZj2AFY
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) February 19, 2025
Diggs, who caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns, should be considered one of the top pass-catchers on the market despite the season-ending injury.
Houston figured that Diggs would only be with the franchise for one year after converting his three-year extension signed with the Bills into a one-year, $22.5 million deal following the trade.
Of course, things have changed.
Second-year receiver Tank Dell suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 and is expected to miss the majority of the 2025 season. Outside of Collins, there isn't stability for the second receiver spot.
Negotiations with free agents can start on March 10, though no deal can be signed until the league year officially begins on March 12. Earlier this offseason, Stroud said he and Diggs were 'just finding their groove' when he suffered the torn ACL in mid-October.
'I would love to have Stef back,' the third-year quarterback said following the divisional-round loss to Kansas City. 'He's somebody that I would love to do this whole thing back with.'
Nick Caserio said 'The door is always open' on the potential return of pending FA WR Stefon Diggs just now on @SethCPayne and @SeanTPendergast
— Patrick (@PatTalksTexans) February 19, 2025
When asked about a timeline, Caserio joked that a deal could be done leading up to the combine next week in Indianapolis.
'Things will probably pick up here over the next few weeks and obviously when you have, we'll call it the legal tampering period, which will be preceded by the illegal tampering period which will take place at the Combine, we'll probably have a pretty good idea of kind of where everybody is going to situate and what the market looks like,' Caserio said.
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