The Houston Texans have made some moves during the legal tampering period of NFL free agency, such as signing receiver Randall Cobb and adding secondary help with cornerback Vernon Hargreaves and safety Eric Murray.
However, those moves pale in comparison to Monday’s trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins and the Texans’ 2020 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round selection.
The moves are such that Doug Farrar of the Touchdown Wire has no choice but to categorize the Texans as one of the four losers in 2020 free agency through the first wave.
They traded away one of the game’s best wide receivers. They acquired a running back (with a big contract) and picks in return. They still lack a first round selection, and while they could theoretically move into the first round now given their two second round picks, what will they draft there? A wide receiver? Why not hold on to the one you have, rather than bank on the one that could be?
There are pro-Texans rumors circulating that Hopkins was asking for the organization to re-work his contract with two years left on his five-year contract worth $81 million. Then, there are pro-Hopkins rumors that cast coach Bill O’Brien, now full-time general manager, in an unfavorable, gauche light that made a trade all but inevitable.
Somewhere in the middle could be the truth; the full documentation won’t reverse the trade for heartbroken Texans fans.
What is reality is the salary cap hit the Texans will take from adding Johnson and his contract. Over the next two seasons, Houston will incur a cap hit of $20 million, all for a running back who saw his most meritorious season in 2016.
If the Texans lose big in 2020, critics will point to their losing streak beginning in free agency.
