Superstar receiver Stefon Diggs chimes in on Houston Texans Super Bowl chatter
GO BIG OR GO HOME
05 June 2024
We like his mindset. Photo via: Houston Texans YouTube/Screenshot.
When Stefon Diggs was dealt to Houston from Buffalo in April, many believed the addition of the superstar receiver vaulted the Texans into Super Bowl contention.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since the trade, Diggs said it’s far too early to be talking about winning a ring.
“I’m going to take it one day at a time,” he said. “It starts in practice. It starts in the walk-through. It starts in the meeting room. So, for me, winning is always in the forefront of my brain with everything that I do ... but it’s one thing at a time rather than just jumping the gun. I don’t put the carriage before the horse.”
The Texans made a remarkable turnaround last season thanks in large part to the additions of quarterback C.J. Stroud, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson and and coach DeMeco Ryans. Houston, which had won just 11 games combined in the three previous seasons, won the AFC South and a wild-card playoff game against Cleveland before falling to Baltimore in the divisional round.
Now the Texans have added Diggs to a receiving group already featuring Nico Collins, who had a career-high 1,297 yards receiving last season, and Tank Dell, who had seven TD grabs as a rookie last year before breaking his leg in his 11th game.
Diggs is a four-time Pro Bowler and was an All-Pro in 2020. He has had at least 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past six seasons and finished with 1,183 yards last season.
He said he was happy when he was traded to the Texans and is thrilled to be working with an offense led by Stroud. Diggs added that everyone has been helpful and welcoming as he’s adjusted to his new team.
“Just spending time with the guys, being around the team and building that camaraderie,” he said. “I’ve been in the league for a little while now so being around a good group of guys is always a breath of fresh air.”
Stroud and Diggs bonded at the Pro Bowl in February and have only gotten closer since becoming teammates. The quarterback said he and Diggs have already had many conversations that he believes will help him on the field.
“He’s fitting in great. ... He’s come in and been a leader which I’m proud of him for,” Stroud said. “And just really has been unselfish (and) nothing but just amazing so far. And I’m very excited to work with him.”
Ryans has already been impressed with the 30-year-old Diggs.
“What I’ve seen is a guy who I thought we would get. A guy who’s made plays,” Ryans said. “I think every time we've thrown him the ball, he’s come down with it. He’s a surehanded guy, a really good teammate, great energy around the building and the locker room with the guys.”
“So, I’m excited to continue to see his growth in learning our offense and how we do things, but couldn’t be more pleased with where he is right now,” he continued.
While Diggs spent most of his time with the media Tuesday talking about his future with the Texans, he reflected a bit on his past in Buffalo. He spoke at length about his affinity for Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
“When I got to Buffalo, Josh was and still is my guy,” Diggs said. “People don’t really understand what it’s like to be out there. He really embraced me. ... We spent a lot of time (together) and I probably wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for him. I’ve got a lot of love for that boy.”
You can watch Diggs' full interview above.
The Astros returned from the All-Star break facing two pivotal turning points: a season-defining road series in Seattle and an increasingly hard-to-ignore situation at first base. And while their draft-day gamble on high school slugger Xavier Neyens speaks to long-term optimism, the questions swirling around Christian Walker feel far more immediate.
Houston’s decision to select Neyens 21st overall was a surprise to some, not because of his talent, but because of the organization's pressing need for bats in the upper minors. Still, those inside the draft room saw too much upside to pass on.
Considering the Astros reluctance to sign players long-term, he might be the Jeremy Peña or Isaac Paredes replacement down the road if Cam Smith stays in right field. The bat speed is elite, and the belief is he’ll grow into real power.
Neyens, a 6-foot-4 shortstop projected to possibly shift to third base, may someday be a middle-of-the-lineup anchor. But in the near term, it’s Houston’s lack of middle-of-the-lineup production at first base that casts a shadow over their playoff push.
Walker, acquired in hopes of stabilizing the position after José Abreu’s departure, has not delivered. He’s hitting .229 with a .660 OPS and has already been dropped to seventh in the lineup. With the Astros quietly monitoring alternatives, Jon Singleton, yes, that Jon Singleton, has reemerged as a name worth watching. The left-handed slugger has already hit four homers in 16 games for Sugar Land, posting an .850 OPS. That’s not nothing, even if his career numbers don’t scream long-term fix. In a more typical scenario, the Astros could implement a platoon at first base. But Walker is actually hitting worse against left-handed pitching (.180).
Unless Singleton forces their hand by continuing to look like Babe Ruth in Sugar Land, they’ll likely keep riding with Walker. But the leash is shorter than it was.
The Astros cut ties with Abreu just 1.5 seasons into a 3-year contract. A similar timeline isn’t out of the question for Walker if things don’t turn around. Especially with free agency and trade deadlines presenting chances for Dana Brown to build in contingency plans.
In the meantime, Houston’s most important series of the season so far gets underway this Friday in Seattle, where the Mariners enter just five games back after bludgeoning the Tigers heading into the break. The Astros’ lead, once seven games, feels less secure with Yordan Alvarez, Peña, and Jake Meyers all still sidelined.
The good news: the Astros lead MLB in strikeouts and WHIP, and are TOP 5 in ERA. Their OPS over the past month is second in the league. The concern: Hunter Brown has been shaky in back-to-back starts, and the back of the rotation is a patchwork of question marks.
The Astros apparently have similar concerns about Brown, opting to give him more rest coming out of the All-Star break. He won't be pitching against the Mariners. MLB.com's Brian McTaggart is reporting that the Astros will start Brandon Walter on Friday, Lance McCullers on Saturday, and Framber Valdez on Sunday.
Astros rotation against Seattle:
Friday: LHP Brandon Walter (1-2, 3.98)
Saturday: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4, 6.48)
Sunday: LHP Framber Valdez (10-4, 2.75)
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 17, 2025
Big picture
A sweep in either direction would shift the momentum dramatically. But even a closely contested series could reveal more about where this roster stands, and whether first base remains a tolerated flaw or becomes an active problem.
For now, the Astros are winning enough to keep the conversation quiet. But the noise is building. And if Walker can’t find another gear soon, first base might again become a defining storyline for a team trying to hold off a charge in the West.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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