Texans forming bonds with 'really good teammate' Stefon Diggs after trade

Traded for the second time in his career and locked into a "prove it" deal for 2024 with his new team, Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs is goal-minded before training camp begins next month. His top priority in his early days in Houston is crystal clear from Diggs' perspective. "Earning the respect of my teammates," Diggs said Tuesday. "As a player, I've been around the league for a little while now, so earning the respect of your peers first and earning the respect of your coaches, being where you're supposed to be, and taking your time each and every day. Really valuing the moment. I take it pretty serious, but loving what I'm doing and loving who I'm being around." Diggs drew criticism from media in four seasons with the Bills for perceived selfishness he defended as competitiveness and a desire to be the best. It reached a boiling point last summer, when his future in Buffalo appeared to be in doubt. But Diggs stayed, and played well in 2023, before the Texans acquired him in March for a 2025 second-round draft pick. Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was first-team All-Pro in Buffalo in 2020 as Josh Allen's go-to receiver and caught 35 touchdown passes with 445 receptions and 5,372 yards receiving in 66 games (65 starts). Now entering his 10th NFL season, Diggs joins an ascending offense with the Texans and 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. He said he's grateful for his time with Allen, but not looking back at Buffalo or worried about public opinion as he assimilates into a new locker room. "When you garnish your opinion from what you hear from somebody, it's different if you know them on a personal level. Not too many people know me on a personal level, and I don't particularly share a lot of my thoughts. I keep work, work," Diggs said. "I try not to dive into how I feel about certain things or like people's opinions. I have been in the league, go into my 10th year in the league. Obviously, I put in a lot of work to get where I'm at. The respect level is always there. Who I am as a player, they know who I am and I'm a true competitor. I love to win. I love getting better, who I am as a person. This is a job at the end of the day. We build a family environment with the team. Those guys would know me personally, that's why I earn the respect of them first." Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said there are no surprises based on what he's seen from Diggs in organized team activities. "What I've seen is just a guy who I thought we would get. A guy who has made plays," Ryans said. "Every time we have thrown him the ball, he's come down with it. Sure-handed guy. Really good teammate. Great energy around the building, in the locker room with the guys. I'm excited to continue to see his growth and to learning our offense and how we do things. Couldn't be more pleased where he is right now." --Field Level Media