One of the biggest deals in the recent history of the Minnesota Vikings happened last March, when the team sent wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Buffalo Bills for a series of draft choices, including a first-round selection. Diggs went on to have a great season for Buffalo and the Vikings used that high pick they received from the Bills to select rising star Justin Jefferson, so it looks like things went well for both sides.
But, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Diggs almost had another home this off-season. . .the New England Patriots.
Rapoport reports that the battle for Diggs’ services reached two rivals in East AFC, and when the Bills arrived at the Vikings with their four-draft draft package, the Vikings called the Patriots to give them one more opportunity to match what the Bills had offered. Bill Belichick and company refused, and Diggs went to upstate New York.
The Patriots’ choice in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft was just one point behind Buffalo’s choice. The Bills were originally placed at # 22, while the Patriots held choice # 23. But if Bills had not acquired Diggs and remained at # 22, you would have to think that they would have grabbed Justin Jefferson in his place and the Vikings would have stayed to take. . .well, someone not as good as Justin Jefferson.
Ultimately, things seemed to have worked out very well for both sides of the Diggs trade. But, you kind of wonder how things would have been different if the Patriots had decided to match or beat Bill’s offer to Diggs last March.