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Trade sends RB David Johnson to Houston for Hopkins, 2nd- and 4th-round picks

All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is on his way to the Arizona Cardinals in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans.

The Texans, operating without a general manager in a unique front-office structure for the past year, have been very active on the trade front with head coach Bill O’Brien running the show.

But Hopkins, who has three years and $40 million remaining on his contract, was apparently unhappy with his deal in Houston. With the two sides headed for a contract dispute, Houston agreed to trade the All-Pro and their fourth-round pick to the Cardinals for running back David Johnson, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Multiple reports indicate O’Brien and Hopkins were not on good terms.

O’Brien has been at the helm for multiple trades since the start of 2019 training camp, including sending Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks, surrendering a first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and acquiring running back Carlos Hyde at the 2019 trade deadline.

The most recent trades of star wide receivers netted huge returns. The New York Giants received first- and third-round picks for Odell Beckham Jr. from the Cleveland Browns last offseason.

Amari Cooper went to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick from the then-Oakland Raiders.

Hopkins has averaged 1,200 receiving yards and eight touchdowns per season in Houston. He has missed two career games. In Arizona, he will combine with Larry Fitzgerald as the starting receivers for 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray.

Johnson, 28, had a huge season for the Cardinals in 2016 — more than 2,100 yards from scrimmage, 20 touchdowns, 80 receptions — but has not reached that level since a wrist injury limited him to one game in 2017.

–Field Level Media