EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — It was just over a year ago that Stefon Diggs was waiting for his named to be called during the 2015 NFL Draft.
Flash forward to now and Diggs is coming off a solid rookie campaign in which he hauled in team highs of 52 catches for 720 yards last season.
It's safe to say while the past 12-plus months have been a whirlwind for the 22-year-old wide receiver from Maryland, it's also been a blast.
"It's been amazing," said Diggs, who also caught four touchdowns and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. "It's definitely been a great year with how my first year went, but I felt like I didn't play to the best of my abilities.
"There was a lot of learning, and I look forward to making it a better year," he added.
When Diggs arrived at Winter Park for rookie minicamp last May, he had much to learn about Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner's system.
Now that Diggs is a year older and a year wiser, he said the frantic pace of practice has slowed down a bit.
"Just as far as being more comfortable, you're not coming into a new system," Diggs said. "The things you've learned, you just need to continue to get better with.
"You get more comfortable so you can play even faster," he added. "I feel a lot better."
But Diggs' adjustment period extended to more than just the practice field. The former five-star high school recruit said film sessions and scheme breakdowns are coming quicker to him in the classroom.
"When you're a rookie, you're just trying to figure it all out," Diggs said. "I got of got the hang of things with how to study and how to do things the right way. I know what works for me."
A year later, Diggs said he continues to gain the trust and respect of his teammates, including quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Diggs was one of a handful of wide receivers that met up with Bridgewater in Florida this offseason. The workouts were jokingly called the "Teddy Two Gloves Passing Academy."
"He definitely knows me (better)," Diggs said. "The more time we spend together, the more comfortable we'll get with each other as far as thinking alike."
With the Vikings coming off an 11-5 campaign and their first NFC North title since 2009, some think Minnesota is primed for a deep playoff run.
Diggs shrugged off the chance to make any bold predictions, saying he's simply going to do exactly what he's done throughout his first year in the league — get to work.
"I'm not going to say that we're going to do this or we're going to do that," Diggs said. "I'll leave that to the older guys. From my point of view, we just have to go out there and play."
