Hopkins trade revisited.

With the news today of Hopkins being released from the Cardinals I thought it would be a good idea to look back at the trade and see how it played out for both teams. Spoiler its not what you think. (kinda)

Before the 2020 draft the Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins and a 4th round pick to the Cardinals for a package of David Johnson, a 2nd round pick(no. 40) and a 2021 4th round pick. Neither of the 4th round picks amounted to anything so I'll just leave those out.

With the 2nd round pick acquired in the trade the Texans drafted Ross Blacklock, a complete bust.

David Johnson would only spend 2 seasons with the Texans and go on to rush for 919 yards and 6 TDs in that time. He would also add 539 yards and 3 TDs through the air. Over all not great.

In the last 3 seasons with the Cardinals Hopkins would have a total of 2696 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns. The Cardinals have now released him receiving no draft capital in return.

That may look like the end of the trade but there is one more piece that, although not part of the original trade, was certainly a consequence of it: The trade for Brandin Cooks.

The Texans traded a 2nd round pick(no. 57 – would become Van Jefferson) to the Rams in exchange for Cooks. In 3 seasons with the Texans Cooks would have 2886 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. A stat line almost identical to Hopkins. The Texans have of course now traded Cooks to the Cowboys for a 2023 fifth and a 2024 6th.

Not to say we won the trade, it was still bad, but the Cardinals didn't really do much better in the end. They won more games but are now in a worse position going forward.