The Houston Texans shocked much of the football world on March 20th, trading standout wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson and two draft picks.
On Friday, in a conference call with Texans season ticket holders, head coach Bill O’Brien tried to explain the rationale behind the deal, which was criticized by a large swath of the team’s fanbase and the football world as a whole.
O’Brien stated that the Texans were happy with Hopkins, but that the 27-year-old wide received “wanted a raise” on his contract that has three remaining years.
The Texas, apparently, were uncomfortable with committing more money to the four-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro selection. According to O’Brien, the team highly valued the package offered by Arizona, which included a second-round pick in the 2020 Draft and a fourth-round pick in next year’s Draft along with Johnson.
Texans fans are still reeling from the loss of Hopkins, who is considered to be one of the top wideouts in the league. Many believe that the package that Arizona received in exchange for him was simply insufficient.
At any rate, Houston seems to have a rationale for their approval of the deal, whether or not their fans like it.
