The Houston Texans stunned the NFL world earlier this offseason when coach/GM Bill O’Brien traded away one of his best players, three-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, to the Cardinals.
Houston sent Hopkins and a fourth-rounder to Arizona in exchange for running back David Johnson, a second-rounder and a fourth-rounder – and the deal was universally panned by media and fans alike from around the league. The trade was so lopsided in the Cardinals’ favor that it was declined in Madden NFL, but according to O’Brien, trading away his franchise quarterback’s favorite target was “in the best interest” of the team.
O’Brien defended the trade on Friday in a conference call with season ticket holders. According to O’Brien, Hopkins – who has three years and $39.9 million remaining on his contract- wanted a raise. Hopkins is only the eighth highest-paid WR in the NFL by average annual value, but O’Brien was unwilling to give him a new deal.
Via ESPN:
“I would say the deal with Arizona was a deal that we felt was in the best interest of our team. DeAndre Hopkins was a great football player here. He made so many plays for us. We love DeAndre Hopkins. But he had three years left on his deal and he wanted a raise. And we weren’t going to be able to go in that direction….
There’s a lot of things that go into trades. Lot of thoughts that go in. How much are you going to take on contractually? How much does it take to buy that second-round pick, that No. 40 pick? What type of player are you bringing in? What type of player are you losing and what is in the best interest of the team?”
Perhaps David Johnson will return to his 2016 self in Houston, but that doesn’t seem likely for a 28-year-old running back who was supplanted by Kenyan Drake last season. O’Brien won’t have to deal with fitting a new Hopkins deal under the cap, but the Texans are in no way a better football team after the trade.
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