Stephen A. Smith declared the Houston Texans are now the best team in the Lone Star State, while sports media personalities reacted to the addition of Stefon Diggs to the team.
On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills reportedly traded the wide receiver to Houston for a 2025 first-round pick via Minnesota. The Texans also received a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick in the trade.
The trade pairs Diggs with a rising star, CJ Stroud, at quarterback. Adding Diggs gives Stroud, coming off his rookie season, a top wide receiver on a team loaded with young talent.
“The big headline is that they’re probably the best team in Texas,” Smith said on First Take with a smile. “I hope it’s Houston against Dallas (in a Monday night game).”
‘What’s going to happen with those Dallas Cowboys is they’re going to stay out there and monitor this situation. It’s one thing if you don’t win a Super Bowl and that’s bad enough. It’s one thing if you don’t make it to the NFC Championship game, it’s another thing even worse. But it’s something else entirely when you’re not even the best team in Texas.
Stephen A. Smith and other members of the media react to the trade of Stefon Diggs to the Texans
The Bills traded the wide receiver to Houston after four seasons, pairing him with CJ Stroud.
“They have a younger quarterback,” Smith continued. “They have the best coach. And these brothers are not going to cost $60 million. You have to pay CD Lamb. You have to pay Dak Prescott. You have to find a way to play Micah Parsons. And the only thing the Houstons do is Texans is ‘Hello, we’re here.’
While Smith expressed his excitement for the Texans-Cowboys matchup on ESPN, Skip Bayless highlighted how the Bills favored their quarterback, Josh Allen, for their future.
“I’m not on the Buffalo Bills, but you could see it on the football field last year,” Bayless said in a statement. Indisputable. “They weren’t on the same page.”
‘He was heading nowhere slowly. And finally, Bills management said, ‘Enough of this.’ They chose their quarterback over their receiver. I’m sure Josh (Allen) had the last word here, where he said, “I just can’t live with this.”
Robert Griffin III reiterated Bayless’ sentiment writing, “Josh Allen now has a chance to prove he doesn’t need Stefon Diggs anymore, just like Patrick Mahomes proved he didn’t need Tyreek Hill.”
JJ Watt also weighed in, praising the Texans’ offseason activity.
“The last two offseasons for the Texans have completely transformed the franchise,” Watt wrote in. ‘DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud, Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, etc.’
“Houston is a world-class destination.”
Last season, Diggs made 107 receptions for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns for Buffalo.
Stroud led Houston to a 10-7 record to lead the AFC South before losing to the Ravens.
Diggs joined the Bills in 2020 after five seasons with the Vikings. In four years with Buffalo, Diggs recorded 445 receptions for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Last season, he made 107 catches for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns before the Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional playoffs.
On the other hand, the Texans finished atop the AFC South with a 10-7 record before losing on the other side of the second round to the Baltimore Ravens.
“If the Houston Texans can stay healthy, that’s a big factor,” he said. Bryant McFadden. “But if CJ Stroud can play like he did last year with all the additions they’ve made, they’re the next best team outside of the Kansas City Chiefs.”
“If you add Stefon Diggs, the Houston Texans are there,” he continued. ‘It’s amazing to think about the Houston Texans maybe three or four years ago. These are Super Bowl moments. “They’re the second-best team in the AFC.”