Despite trade speculation brewing, the Minnesota Vikings are reportedly not interested in trading away wide receiver Stefon Diggs, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
From @NFLGameDay: The #Vikings are planning to play WR Stefon Diggs today following a crazy week, but teams have been calling with trade interest. A lot of them. From what I’m told: The team isn’t trading Diggs. pic.twitter.com/2Bvi80s0Q3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2019
The report draws a parallel to one earlier in the week, where the Vikings reportedly spurned trade offers for the star wide receiver and affirmed they aren't looking to trade him.
Diggs skipped practice and meetings earlier in the week. Though he classified doing so because of a “cold,” the Vikings didn't do the same. Instead, the belief was that he was looking for a trade out of Minnesota as their passing offense is faltering with Kirk Cousins at quarterback; in turn, Diggs isn't getting targets.
Through the first four games of the season, Diggs has 13 receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown. He is averaging 4.75 targets per game; that’s a far cry from 2019, in which he averaged nearly 10 per. Though a talented receiver, Cousins isn't throwing the ball his way, due to a shift in focus on offense — from pass-heavy to run-heavy.
Diggs didn't precisely curb trade rumors when he returned to practice on Thursday. The 25-year-old said, “there's truth to all rumors” when asked on the matter. Subsequently, the Vikings later fined the wide receiver for missing practice and meetings.
Diggs doesn't necessarily have leverage in a trade request. Though the Vikings are struggling to get him the ball, he is one of the NFL's best young talents at the receiver position and is under contract for four more seasons. However, if Minnesota decides to move him, they should recoup a considerable trade haul.
Diggs is expected to play on Sunday against the New York Giants.
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