Last month, the Houston Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick and a fourth-rounder in 2021. The lopsided deal was widely panned by Texans fans and the NFL community who believed Houston gave up way too much for a wide receiver of Hopkins’ caliber.
Texans head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien explained that the move was “in the best interest of our team,” and necessary since Hopkins wanted "a raise." However, some suspect that the trade was motivated by underlying tension between O’Brien and Hopkins that Michael Irvin detailed in an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up.
Given the growing possibility of the Texans entering the 2020 season without a bonafide No. 1 wideout, Houston have worked out a deal with the Los Angeles Rams for wide receiver Brandin Cooks in exchange for a second-round pick, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
The #Texans weapons surrounding QB Deshaun Watson: WRs Brandin Cooks, Will Fuller, Randall Cobb, and Kenny Stills, TE Darren Fells, and RBs David Johnson and Duke Johnson. Pretty solid, versatile group.
The trade has left Texans fans wondering how the team could part with arguably the best receiver in the league, only to acquire Cooks, who makes more money than Hopkins.
