The first day of the legal tampering period is behind us, with plenty of moves already being made. But the one move that is still resonating in everyone's mind is the head-scratching trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals and David Johnson to the Houston Texans.
After having a day to process the transaction, did Bill O'Brien get robbed after trading Hopkins for Johnson? Let's take a look at the entire landscape of the trade before making an obvious judgment on the matter.
The trade begins with the Texans acquiring Johnson, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. On the other hand, the Cardinals receive Hopkins and a fourth-round pick. What is forgotten in the trade is the fact that O'Brien and the Texans are inheriting the rest of Johnson's contract.
As a matter of fact, Houston will carry $20.1 million in cap hits over the next two years due to Johnson's questionable contract. When you consider that Johnson hasn't been a top-tier running back since 2016, this deal becomes even more mind-numbing.
At the same time, the Texans are removing possibly the best wide receiver in the entire NFL in Hopkins. Unlike Johnson, Hopkins was on a team-friendly deal, being owed nearly $40 million over the next three seasons. With how much other elite wideouts are making, Hopkins was a bargain for the Texans.
However, it was noted that Hopkins wanted to alter his contract and Houston was unwilling to budge. Still, O'Brien could've gotten way more in return for the All-Pro receiver if he played his cards right.
Before coming to a conclusion on whether or not O'Brien got robbed, we can compare the Hopkins to other trades involving talented receivers. Most recently, Stefon Diggs was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a slew of draft picks.
Altogether, the Minnesota Vikings were able to net a first-round pick, fifth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick in this year's draft. The Vikings also landed a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to cap it all off. Provided that, the Vikings got more for a disgruntled receiver than the Texans got for a receiver that was content with where he was at.
Just last offseason, the New York Giants were able to get a first-round selection, a third-round selection, and Jabrill Peppers in exchange for Odell Beckham Jr. This begs the question, was O'Brien aware he could get a first-round pick in return for Hopkins?
The moment that Arizona sent their offer for Hopkins, they probably expected O'Brien to scoff at it. However, the Cardinals were pleasantly surprised to land the three-time All-Pro with ease.
With Deshaun Watson being the future of the franchise, it makes no sense to trade his go-to wide receiver. Also, in a passing-driven league, O'Brien seems to believe that All-Pro wide receivers grow on trees. On the contrary, the Texans will likely never find a receiver like Hopkins while O'Brien is with the organization.
Regardless of your opinion on O'Brien as a head coach, this trade was an absolute robbery for the Cardinals. It's safe to say that O'Brien's time as the general manager of the Texans isn't off to a hot start.
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