Vikings have no reason to trade Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs wants to be traded. The Minnesota Vikings should bypass that feeling and alleviate it.

Minnesota signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a three-year $84 million fully guaranteed deal last offseason. Cousins was decent last year, but has struggled mightily so far this season. He’s thrown a pathetic three touchdown passes in four games. Not surprisingly, Diggs is tired of the lack of production from Cousins. It that has resulted in his own stat line of 13 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown.

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At 25 years old and signed through the 2023 campaign on a reasonable deal, general manager Rick Spielman has era incentive to move him. For starers, Stefon Diggs is under control and can’t hold out with any real power behind it. Second, when the Vikings signed Cousins to a record-breaking deal, they effectively put themselves in the position of having to do everything possible to make him succeed. Trading Diggs — and therefore allowing fellow wide receiver Adam Thielen to see constant double-teams — is not something which tracks with said plan.

Additionally, while Diggs is upset, he’s still. showing up to work. He’s practicing. He’s not becoming a distraction, despite one of the more answers you’ll ever get from. an athlete on a controversial topic. Per NFL.com and via The Athletic:

“I said there’s truth to all rumors. What I mean by that … there’s a lot of speculation of me being frustrated. Of course being a receiver and wanting to have success and wanting to win. If you’re not winning of course you’ll be frustrated. That’s my answer.”

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Going into their Week 5 matchup with the New York Giants, the Vikings are 2-2. Somehow, they are in the basement of the NFC North. If Minnesota plans to climb out and start contending for a playoff spot, it’s likely on the offense and specifically the passing attack to spearhead that charge. Diggs, disgruntled or otherwise, is a massive part of that.

For now, the Vikings remain in the hunt and are a road favorite this Sunday. A win and a big day for Diggs would go a long way towards putting much of this in the proverbial rearview mirror, even if for only a while. However, a loss to the Giants compounded by Cousins having another bad outing, and this could completely spiral.

Regardless, Minnesota needs to hold onto one of its best players, no matter how much Diggs wants to play in other colors.