Being a captain is something that Diggs set his ambitions on as soon as he was acquired by the defending AFC South champions. And he earned the status by sharing knowledge with his younger teammates.

“Everything,” Diggs said when asked what being named a team captain meant to him. “At this point in my career. Obviously, the past couple of years, I’ve been a captain. Going to a new team, new scenery, new people and earning the respect of my teammates, my coaches, when I say everything it means everything. I play this sport with a chip on my shoulder every day. I’m trying to play with a lot of patience and work ethic. So, to see them acknowledge that and they respect and appreciate you. I just want to do everything I can to be the best captain I can be.

“It was just something I feel like I had to work for. I had to earn something I wanted for myself. I feel like being a captain and that level of accountability not only just holds those around you accountable; it holds yourself accountable. You are who you are. You can’t run from that. I got here from being myself.”

Yes, the former Bills star is fitting right into the Texans’ explosive offense. And, yes, the Texans' offense has plenty of flexibility and diversity of downfield targets. The Texans have a solid argument that they have the most talented wide receiver trio in the NFL between Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins, who signed a three-year, $75 million maximum value deal this offseason.

And Diggs has been welcomed by Stroud, coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans organization. The diva label frequently attached to Diggs is something that general manager Nick Caserio has characterized as unfair.

“I’m a man of integrity,” Diggs said. “You can ask my peers what kind of player I am. I’m a man who works hard from myself. I’m working hard to earn and everything that I get. Common misconceptions happen all the time. I’m not mad at them. It’s easy to go with a narrative if you don’t do your research and it’s all word of mouth. It’s crazy because you’ve kind of got to rock with the narrative, I guess, if you don’t know me.

“If you believe in me, then you know me on a personal level because I’m up here, you’re gonna know what kind of man I am. My teammates will say it more than I will. I’m a man of integrity. I’m a man, and I pride myself on the hard work of myself and showing up each and every day.”

Diggs and Stroud have formed a fast friendship through their shared love of football and commitment to family.

“He’s family at this point,” Diggs said. “Things kind of fall into place how they’re supposed to. I look at him as family, not just my quarterback. I’m rocking with him through thick and thin. I always tell him I am with you when you’re right, I’m with you when you’re wrong.”

When the Texans acquired Diggs, they made a huge adjustment to his contract. They eliminated the final three years of his original four-year, $96 million extension, per a league source. The Texans have now shifted $3.515 million guaranteed that Diggs was due in 2025 to 2024 and made this a one-year guaranteed $22.5 million contract that includes a $250,000 workout bonus and a $15,000 per game active roster bonus, up to $255,000.

HIs salary-cap figure for this year is $5.8 million.

Diggs received a $20.895 million signing bonus, His $1.21 million base salary is fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap. And 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 are voidable years with $30 million base salaries annually for salary-cap accounting purposes. His salary-cap figure for 2024 is just $5.867 million due to this renegotiated contract.

The Texans, in an all-in mode after this blockbuster trade and a spending spree that includes a two-year, $51 million deal for Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, have made this a one-year arrangement with Diggs, for now. Nothing precludes them from doing a new deal with Diggs, if things go smoothly, or moving on after one year should he leave in free agency. They have this year to build a relationship, and that relationship is off to a fast start.

“I am really excited about adding Stefon to our team,” Ryans said. “I mean, you talk about his influence, it’s not just his influence on the receivers, it’s just his influence on our entire team. Like his competitive spirit, what he brings each and every day, like it lights the fire in our entire team.

“So, I’m very pleased with what he’s done, the energy that he brings, and I’m excited to see him go do it in the regular season. But he’s been, he’s been a leader for us since the day he stepped on the field. And I’m very excited to see him continue to grow, continue to see him build, even better chemistry with his teammates.”

Diggs has put in the time to get to know his teammates. He’s been generous with his time. And he’s earned the respect of his coaches.

“I really like his personality,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “I’ve said it before, he’s one of us. I was pretty quick to see that once he was here, I was talking with him. He was around the guys. I mean, the fact that he was voted captain I think shows that he’s one of us. They respect him, they appreciate how much he works and he cares a lot.

“He’s going to do everything he can to prepare himself for game day to make sure he’s in the best spot he can be to go and perform. And he’s ultra-competitive.”

Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.

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