The Minnesota Vikings' recent span of instability on offense hasn't seemed to hinder receiver Stefon Diggs.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Diggs is on his fourth quarterback and third offensive coordinator in four seasons.
Pay that state of flux no mind. A fifth-round pick in 2015, Diggs has steadily climbed the ranks and earned his place among the league's top wide receivers. Coming off a career year in which he led all receivers in contested catch rate (64.5 percent) and made his mark as one half of arguably the greatest play in franchise history, Diggs is eyeing another breakout year. That should include his first 1,000-yard receiving season and Pro Bowl discussion.
This offseason admittedly feels "different" for Diggs, who, along with teammate Adam Thielen, jump-started the process of familiarizing himself with new Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins during an impromptu throwing session in Atlanta last month. Though the Vikings' offense is still being constructed this spring, OTAs hold significant importance for Diggs as he and Cousins build the foundation of their relationship.
"You see guys around the league that have had the same quarterback for eight years, nine years," Diggs said. "For me, it's just the same old building process. Getting back going, earning the trust and getting the trust of the quarterback. That excites me, as far as having a new challenge. I love winning and winning at a high level, so as far as having a new guy, it's a new guy to win for. For me, it's nothing but a new learning curve."
That foundation will undoubtedly play an important role in Diggs' future, and potentially his future earnings. Just how well Diggs and Cousins do elevating each other's games could determine the type of deal the receiver is able to command next offseason.
But will he get to free agency first?
The Vikings have several tricky contract situations on the horizon, some that appear closer than others. Linebacker Anthony Barr, who is set to play the 2018 season on his fifth-year option, was absent at the start of OTAs last week as the perception of a contract holdout appeared to take shape. Diggs and defensive end Danielle Hunter, two prized members of that 2015 draft class, are also in line for extensions ahead of next season.
In making the financials work, Minnesota is left with a tough choice this offseason: let Diggs play out the remainder of his rookie contract or lock him up to a long-term deal before he potentially becomes the hottest wide receiver on the open market.
Given the recent contracts signed by wideouts across the league, it seems more so a matter of when, not if, Diggs strikes a lucrative deal that not only puts him in a new tax bracket, but sets the precedent for the rest of his NFL career.
Since late December, Sammy Watkins (Kansas City), Jarvis Landry (Cleveland), Davante Adams (Green Bay) and Allen Robinson (Chicago) all jumped into the top-10 among the NFL's highest-paid receivers, earning deals of at least $14 million on average each season.
How does Diggs compare? Despite not playing a full 16-game season in his first three years, including the past two in which he dealt with groin injuries, Diggs has cemented himself as a receiver who not only makes things happen for himself but elevates the play of those around him. Last season, quarterbacks had a 139.7 passer rating throwing in his direction with Diggs posting a 64.7 catch percentage. Over the course of 40 career games, he has 200 receptions for 2,472 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Landry's five-year, $75 million deal with the Browns may serve as the benchmark for the type of deal Diggs could command. Diggs, who is set to make $1.9 million in 2019, aligns closest with Adams, who signed a four-year, $58 million deal. The Green Bay receiver averaged 6.5 touchdowns a year compared with Diggs' five, but Diggs has the edge in receiving yards per year (824).
Diggs says he isn't paying too close attention to how the rest of the wide receiver market is earning its cash and isn't worried about how a performance this year could affect his next contract. Still, the types of deals these players are earning are hard to ignore given the spotlight it puts on his position.
"Not any different than the approach I've had each and every year that I come in," he said. "I look at it as I always want to get things done, and I always want to come in with a mindset of having success, so I kind of let my resume figure itself out. For me, I don't really focus on the numbers. I'm happy for the guys that get paid around the league. These are men that have been playing football for their whole life. As far as them securing something for their kids and stuff like that, it's very special. So I like to congratulate guys every chance I get. As far as my particular situation, I want my resume to speak for itself. It will figure itself out."
Diggs is in a window to earn himself a major payday, but that could make things tricky for the Vikings if they're hoping to maintain a level of internal salary consistency among the receiver group. Thielen signed a four-year deal ahead of the 2017 season that pays him just over $19 million. Should the Vikings award Diggs with an extension, they may need to compensate the Pro Bowler Thielen with a contract restructure.
The type of success Cousins achieves in 2018 likely will hinge on his top two receivers. Diggs and Thielen will play a role in creating the explosive gains new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo emphasized at OTAs last week. According to Pro Football Focus, Cousins was tied with Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz last season with 10 touchdown passes that traveled at least 20 yards or more down field.
In 2017, Diggs notched a 43.5 reception percentage on 46 targets that traveled that distance, with five touchdowns. Giving Cousins a reliable deep-ball threat not only helps Cousins orchestrate the Vikings' passing attack, but will undoubtedly keep the intrigue on Diggs deep, whenever and wherever he inks his next deal.
"I love being here," Diggs said. "Like I said, those kind of things figure themselves out. As far as my team, I love being here. I love playing with the Vikings. I started here, and I've been happy all my time here. I love my teammates, I love my staff. There's no place I'd rather be than here. I love being here, so however it works out I'm not really mad. I understand it's all business at the end of the day, but I do love it here."