The Texans spent the offseason adding weapons to bolster an already potent C.J. Stroud-led offense.
Among Houston's biggest moves was the trade to acquire two-time All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs from Buffalo. Diggs, who was selected by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, has ascended to stardom during his 10-year career.
With the Vikings and Bills, Diggs frustrated opposing defenses while wearing No. 14, but he's now sporting a new number with his new franchise. In April, the Texans teased that Diggs would be switching to No. 1 in Houston, which was confirmed when he first took the field for action.
Diggs wearing No. 1 may take some getting used to for some fans but others may consider it a familiar sight. Here is why Diggs changed from No. 14 to No. 1 ahead of the 2024 season.
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Why did Stefon Diggs change his number?
Diggs wore No. 1 at the University of Maryland, so the number change is a callback to his days in College Park.
When Diggs was drafted by the Vikings in 2015, wide receivers weren't allowed to wear single-digit numbers in the NFL. That rule remained in place when Diggs joined Buffalo in 2020 before being changed in 2021.
In response to the rule change, Diggs contemplated changing to No. 1 or No. 7 but ultimately stuck with No. 14 out of respect for "all the people that spent their hard-earned money supporting the 14."
Three years later, Diggs' number change corresponds with a location change.
Because the 2024 season marks a fresh start for Diggs, he was able to change his number without a league penalty. The NFL mandates players buy the full inventory of merchandise with their jersey number if they request an immediate change with the same team.
While he was not penalized by the NFL, Diggs reportedly paid Texans safety Jimmie Ward $100,000 for the No. 1 jersey.
Sometimes when there's a jersey number change in #NFL, it comes at a price. New #Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs obtained the No. 1 jersey from veteran safety Jimmie Ward, for roughly $100,000, per league sources @KPRC2 And Ward is back to No. 20, his old #49ers number @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 4, 2024
WEEK 2 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Stefon Diggs college stats
| Season | School | Games | Rec. | Yards | TD | Y/R |
| 2012 | Maryland | 11 | 54 | 848 | 6 | 15.7 |
| 2013 | Maryland | 7 | 34 | 587 | 3 | 17.3 |
| 2014 | Maryland | 10 | 62 | 792 | 5 | 12.8 |
| Career | 28 | 150 | 2,227 | 14 | 14.8 |
Diggs had an exceptional freshman season for the Terps, catching 54 passes for 848 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. After his sophomore season was cut short by an injury, Diggs got back to his playmaking ways as a junior, with 62 catches for 792 yards and five touchdowns.
Diggs finished his college career with 14 touchdowns before entering the 2015 NFL Draft.
Stefon Diggs NFL stats
| Season | Team | Games | Rec. | Yards | TD | Y/R |
| 2015 | Vikings | 13 | 52 | 720 | 4 | 13.8 |
| 2016 | Vikings | 13 | 84 | 903 | 3 | 10.8 |
| 2017 | Vikings | 14 | 64 | 849 | 8 | 13.3 |
| 2018 | Vikings | 15 | 102 | 1,021 | 9 | 10.0 |
| 2019 | Vikings | 15 | 63 | 1,130 | 6 | 17.9 |
| 2020 | Bills | 16 | 127 | 1,535 | 8 | 12.1 |
| 2021 | Bills | 17 | 103 | 1,225 | 10 | 11.9 |
| 2022 | Bills | 16 | 108 | 1,429 | 11 | 13.2 |
| 2023 | Bills | 17 | 107 | 1,183 | 8 | 11.1 |
| 2024 | Texans | 1 | 6 | 33 | 2 | 5.5 |
| Career | 137 | 816 | 10,028 | 69 | 12.3 |
Diggs has been one of the NFL's most prolific receivers throughout his career. He enters 2024 after turning in six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and looks to add to that tally in his new home.
He has taken home All-Pro honors in 2020 (first team) and 2022 (second team). Diggs' 2020 campaign is one of the best in his career as he led the league in both receptions and yards.
In Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, Diggs surpassed the career 10,000-yard mark and scored two touchdowns despite his catches resulting in just 33 yards.
