Worst Trade In Recent Memory: Houston Texans


The 2020 trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for David Johnson and draft picks was widely considered to be a controversial and lopsided trade.

DeAndre Hopkins was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, widely regarded as a top 3 receiver in the league. He was a four-time All-Pro and had recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in five of his last six seasons with the Texans.

He was also under contract for the next three seasons with a reasonable salary cap hit.

David Johnson, on the other hand, was a running back who had suffered injuries and had seen a significant decline in his production in recent seasons. He was also due to earn a large salary in the upcoming seasons, making him a significant financial burden for the Texans.

In addition to David Johnson, the Texans also received a second-round draft pick and a fourth-round draft pick from the Cardinals in the trade. However, many analysts and fans believed that the Texans did not receive enough compensation for a player of Hopkins' caliber.

With the two picks, the Texans selected defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and cornerback John Reid.

The trade was widely criticized as one of the worst trades in recent NFL history, with many experts questioning why the Texans would trade away one of their best players for such little return.

The move was seen as a sign of dysfunction within the Texans organization, which was later confirmed by reports of tension between Hopkins and Texans head coach Bill O'Brien.

Overall, the trade was seen as a major loss for the Texans, who traded away one of the best players in the league for a declining running back and draft picks that did not make up for the loss of Hopkins.

On the other hand, the Cardinals were widely praised for acquiring a star wide receiver at a relatively low cost. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports