When discussing the best wide receiver currently in the NFL there are a few names that come to mind right away. Some up-and-coming young players have already established themselves as stars, such as Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. One player who isn’t always mentioned right away but deserves to be in the mix for the title of best receiver in the league is Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills.
The Vikings traded him to the Bills in 2020, along with a seventh-round pick that turned into starting cornerback Dane Jackson, in exchange for a package of picks that included the first-rounder used on Jefferson.
That trade was a huge win for both sides as they both have come away feeling great about their return package. Diggs turned himself into a big-time player after being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and has elevated himself to superstar status since joining the Bills.
In his first season with the team, Diggs led the NFL in receptions and yardage, catching 127 passes for 1,535 yards. He added eight touchdowns, earning his first All-Pro nod and a Pro Bowl nomination in the process. Last season, he made the Pro Bowl again catching 103 passes for 1,225 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns.
His performance in recent seasons and what he is accomplishing this season are very impressive. It is garnering attention from a lot of people in the football world, as NFL on CBS analyst Nate Burleson, a former wide receiver himself, compared Diggs to arguably the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, Jerry Rice.
“[Stefon Diggs] is the closest thing I’ve seen to JERRY RICE in this new era of wide receivers.”
That is some very high praise for Burleson to bestow upon Diggs. Being mentioned in the same breath as Rice is an honor for any pass catcher as you are doing something right to receive that kind of praise.
The comparison is a worthy one as Stefon Diggs is in the midst of another monster season. He is currently leading the NFL with 84 receptions, leading to 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns. This is shaping up to be another career season for the Maryland product as he is on pace to set personal bests in receptions, yards and touchdowns.
