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The Wolf Sports Newsletter: April 9, 2024

By Wolf Sports Staff

April 9, 2024


It was a big week of sports, including a massive NFL trade.

 

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Bills trade Diggs to Houston

 

In a major blockbuster that happened after the dust settled on most of the player movement for 2024, the Bills traded star receiver Stefon Diggs along with two draft picks to the Texans for Minnesota’s 2025 second-round pick. Buffalo eats a few more million dollars in cap this year compared to what it would have been with Diggs on the roster, but they get Diggs’ salary off the books for 2025.

 

 

Obviously, things were not great between Diggs and the Bills. And it does not seem like a coincidence that he was traded the day after he posted “You sure ?” on X in response to a fan saying a top-tier receiver is essential to quarterback Josh Allen’s success.

 

 

Furthermore, Allen reportedly snapped at Diggs after the three-interception performance in Week 1 last season after the receiver must have said something that irritated him. There were public instances of Diggs borderline showing up his quarterback, including in the playoff loss to the Bengals a couple of seasons ago. Also, Diggs did not have close to as big of a role as normal in the second half last season, and both sides ultimately probably have felt it was best to move on.

 

The Texans, who adjusted their new receiver’s contract so that it’s now a one-year pact, and C.J. Stroud now have a scary trio with Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell. Houston is the first team in NFL history to add someone with 100 receptions (Diggs), 1,000 rushing yards (Joe Mixon), and ten sacks (Danielle Hunter) in the previous season.

 

Houston hosts Buffalo this season, so that’ll be one of the first matchups to circle when the schedule is released.

 

Big contract extensions

 

A few teams kept their own long-term, with a few huge new contracts last week:

 

  • The Panthers signed star defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a four-year, $96 million deal. After trading edge rusher Brian Burns to the Giants, Carolina committed to Brown as a strong foundational piece on defense.

 

 

  • The Eagles signed left tackle Jordan Mailata to a three-year, $66 million extension, keeping him in Philadelphia through the 2028 season. It’s the second big extension for the former rugby player that was a seventh-round pick and has been molded by offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland into one of the game’s best.

 

 

  • The Patriots locked up safety Kyle Dugger, who was transition tagged, on a four-year, $58 million deal.

 

 

Additional players staying put

 

After testing the market, several players returned to their 2024 squads:

 

  • Safety Julian Blackmon re-signed with the Colts on a one-year deal.

 

 

  • Former first-round running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is back with the Chiefs.
  • The Giants re-signed versatile defender Isaiah Simmons after acquiring him in a trade during last season.
  • The Eagles brought back nickel cornerback Avonte Maddox after cutting him earlier this offseason.
  • Veteran edge defender Kyle Van Noy re-signed with the Ravens.
  • After signing an offer sheet with the 49ers, the Lions matched it to bring back tight end Brock Wright.

 

Late free agent additions

 

A few notable additions from the past week include:

 

  • The Falcons signed cornerback Kevin King, former second-round pick of the Packers that’s been out of the league since 2021.
  • The Buccaneers signed pass rusher Randy Gregory to a one-year deal.
  • The Bills added offensive lineman La’el Collins.
  • The Dolphins signed defensive tackle Teair Tart.
  • The Commanders signed defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi, who is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program and spent time with the Broncos.

 

More NFL news

 

Longtime NFL offensive line coach Larry Beightol passed away at 81.

 

 

 

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice was driving one of the cars involved in the crash—allegedly from street racing—a couple of weekends ago. Rice’s lawyer Royce West says he is fully cooperating with the investigation.

 

New Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota is the first quarterback in NFL history to wear number 0.

 

Voters in Jackson County rejected a sales tax measure that would have helped fund renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.

 

Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson made an appearance at Wrestlemania, which was held in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field.

 

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1776770996818587754

 

Other Sports Updates

 

National champions: UConn topped Purdue to win their second consecutive national title. On the women’s side, South Carolina completed a perfect 38-0 season after defeating Caitlin Clark and Iowa. Also, One Shining Moment:

 

 

John Calipari is leaving Kentucky to become the head coach at Arkansas.

 

Pitching epidemic: Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber and Marlins pitcher Eury Perez are both out for the season due to Tommy John surgery, and Braves star pitcher Spencer Strider has UCL damage with Tommy John looking likely. Players are blaming the plethora of elbow injuries to a combination of the pitch clock and the banning of foreign substances to help with grip on the ball.

 

The Marlins got their first win of the season after starting the year 0-9.

 

The Oakland A’s will play in Sacramento from 2025-2027 before moving to Las Vegas in 2028.

 

 

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