Stop comparing Stefon Diggs leaving to the Randy Moss trade

After the Minnesota Vikings recently sent Stefon Diggs packing, there have been multiple comparisons to the trade that sent Randy Moss out of town in 2005.

When Stefon Diggs joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, no one really knew what to expect from the receiver who was a fifth-round draft pick.

All Diggs went on to do was evolve into one of the best receivers to ever put on a Vikings uniform. Out of every receiver who has ever played a down for Minnesota, he was able to rack up the seventh-most catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns in his five seasons with the team.

Despite his impressive numbers, Diggs’ relationship with the Vikings began to deteriorate during the last year and it ultimately resulted in the team recently trading him to the Buffalo Bills.

Minnesota was able to get a great return from the Bills in exchange for the talented receiver. Still, the Vikings now have a significant void in their offense to try and fill before the start of next season.

In the days since Diggs was sent packing, the trade has been compared by numerous people to the deal made by Minnesota in 2005 that sent Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders. Other than the fact that the Vikings added an additional first-round pick in both trades, this should be the only legitimate comparison between the two deals.

First off, Moss was a generational talent and while Diggs has put up some nice numbers in his career, he hasn’t changed the game during his time in the NFL. No opposing team has spent multiple draft picks on defensive backs with the deliberate intention to shut down Diggs like they did with Moss during his first run with Minnesota.

If Diggs’ departure is being compared to any past Vikings receiver leaving, it should be compared to when the team traded Percy Harvin back in 2013. Both pass-catchers had their share of exciting moments in a Minnesota uniform, but neither dominated their competition to the same degree that Moss was able to.

Unlike this recent trade, the Vikings also didn’t have an All-Pro receiver left on their roster in 2005 like they do now with Adam Thielen. Minnesota essentially went into the 2005 NFL Draft looking for their next No. 1 receiver when they don’t have to do that this offseason with Thielen still on the team.

Many are already assuming the Vikings are going to draft the next Troy Williamson this year. But with Thielen still on the roster, Minnesota selecting another receiver in the first round is not even an absolute necessity.

Are the Vikings going to add another pass-catcher to try and make up for the loss of Diggs this offseason? Of course, but replacing him is going to be much easier than when Minnesota attempted to replace a guy in Moss who many consider to be the greatest receiver to ever play the game.