Quandre Diggs ‘blindsided’ by trade to Seahawks

Former Detroit Lions safety Quandre Diggs met with his new teammates and media in Seattle on Wednesday as he becomes the newest athlete for the Seahawks,

Diggs already has those he knows up in Seattle, particularly wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who Diggs had played against in the Big 12 conference during his college years. But with his first time in front of the Seattle media, there were plenty of questions as to why he had been moved from Detroit.

Diggs explained that he had been “blindsided” by the trade, and that he received the news from his agent during an off day. Given the reaction of other Lions players on Twitter, it would seem that there were many who had no idea that the former team captain would be on the move.

You can watch the full press conference here.

Seattle media asked Diggs what he thought about the trade, and whether he had expected a trade:

“I was blindsided by it, honestly. I was taking a nap...and I just kept getting phone calls and I got on the phone with my agent, and he was like, ‘you’re heading to Seattle’....‘you got traded to Seattle.’ So that was kind of it. I had to call the GM of the Lions, call the head coach of the Lions, and they told me what it was.”

When asked what the explanation was given to him from the team:

“They just said they wanted to send me to Seattle. The whole team captain aspect, that’s tough. I worked my tail off for those guys in that locker room. I’ve changed the way I went about business around there. You know it’s tough. Like I said I led those guys and I miss those guys but I guess that’s just how things go.”

On his former teammates in Detroit, Diggs had nothing but glowing things to say about the Lions locker room and promises to keep in touch.

“Those are my guys for life. All those guys in the locker room, all the tough days we had during camp, the tough days we had during the season, those things will never be forgotten. I’m going to miss those guys, I’ll stay FaceTiming those guys all the time. It’s just tough when, you know, the middle of the season, the middle of the grind with your guys. Like I said if it was something you expected, but when it comes out of nowhere it’s tough...those guys will continue to be the great players they are and I wish the best for those guys.”

Diggs’ friend Lockett also met with the media on Wednesday, and had nothing but praise for Diggs and what he brings to the Seahawks.

“The thing about him is his work ethic...just the way that he works, the way that he grinds, he really talks the talk and that’s what you learn when you’re around him, he’s going to set you straight. He’s not going to tell me something that not’s true about myself. He’s going to tell me the truth about myself, if I’m playing too much, if I’m taking it too personal, whatever the case is. Just to be able to have him here allows you to have another accountability partner, allows you to continue to grow as a player, and gives him the chance to see what this city is all about and what great fans we got.”

For the Lions, they’re hoping for the depth at safety to pay off so that they can move on from what Diggs brought to the team.