Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair thinks that fans would be excited that coach-general manager Bill O’Brien can make bold moves in the offseason.
McNair took part in a “town hall” with season ticket holders on Friday and said that he thinks fans would be excited by the moves O’Brien and the leadership have made in the offseason thus far.
“It’s important that the focus is the team,” McNair said on the conference call via SportsRadio 610 [KILT-FM]. “I would think as a fan I would be really excited that your leadership can make bold moves and can go make the moves that make the team better. It’s an exciting time for us.”
Cal McNair on moves that have been made: "It's important that the focus is the team. I would think as a fan I would be really excited that your leadership can make bold moves and can go make the moves that make the team better. It's an exciting time for us." #Texans
— SportsRadio 610 (@SportsRadio610) April 3, 2020
The “bold move” that the Texans leadership has made thus far is the trading of three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for All-Pro running back David Johnson, whose lone All-Pro season was in 2016. Houston also sent along their 2020 fourth-round pick and received the Cardinals’ 2020 second-round selection and 2021 fourth-round pick.
There is no denying that the move to trade Hopkins was bold. Only time will reveal if that move was helpful to the team.
Aside from the Hopkins trade, other moves O’Brien and the leadership have made is to sign safe, proven veterans such as receiver Randall Cobb, safety Eric Murray, and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan.
In 2019, the Texans earned a 10-6 record and an AFC South title, their second straight and fourth in O’Brien’s six seasons, and beat the Buffalo Bills 22-19 in overtime in the AFC wild-card playoffs. Even though the Texans blew a 24-0 lead to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, losing 51-31 in the divisional round, the Chiefs trailed in every one of their postseason games, including their Super Bowl LIV win over the San Francisco 49ers. Nonetheless, the expectation is for O’Brien to demonstrate progress in 2020, especially since such bold moves have been taken.
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