Vikings Reportedly Have Tense Situation on Their Hands With Stefon Diggs
By Michael Luciano
Playing with Kirk Cousins certainly isn't for everyone, and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has had it up to here with Cousins seeing him open but instead checking down to the fullback.
Diggs has been very public about demanding a trade amid frustration with his role in Kevin Stefanski's offense, but his issues with the Vikings run much deeper than that.
From @gmfb: The #Vikings have a situation on their hands, as WR Stefon Diggs is upset about many, many things. pic.twitter.com/eCkBUUNp33
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2019
Diggs has been targeted just 19 times in four games this year despite playing on a five-year, $81 million contract. Of his 13 catches and 209 yards this season, and overwhelming majority came when the Vikings were stat-padding during their blowout loss to the Chicago Bears (seven for 108 to be exact).
Diggs, one of the best route runners in the game, has found himself in a situation not unlike Amari Cooper in Oakland last year. Despite his obvious talent, he's stuck in an offense that's going out of its way to ignore him and minimize his role.
Stefon Diggs success rate vs. coverage (and percentile) in #ReceptionPerception the prior two years:
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) October 3, 2019
Vs. Man:
- 2017: 78.7% (98th)
- 77.2% (96th)
Vs. Zone
- 83.5% (85th)
- 84.1 (88th)
Vs. Press
- 75.5 (81st)
- 77.1% (86th)
Elite route-runner. Top-3, at least, in the game.
Diggs is unhappy, and his play is suffering in a prehistoric Vikings offense that lacks creativity. At this point, a trade might just be the best thing for all parties involved.