It might be the start of NFL free agency, but it seems like a trade will overshadow any signing so far.
On a day where the NFL's legal tampering period opened, it didn't take long for Bill O'Brien and the Texans to steal headlines, as he shipped DeAndre Hopkins off to the Cardinals for David Johnson and two draft picks, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
NFL FREE AGENCY 2020:
Ranking the top 50 players, tracking signings
DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth round pick go to Cards for David Johnson and a second round pick this year and a fourth round pick next year.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) March 16, 2020
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Texans also took on all of David Johnson's salary, who has a cap hit of just over $11 million in 2020.
Needless to say, players and citizens alike reacted to the news with shock, awe and hilarity:
Smfh.
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) March 16, 2020
lol ob is drunk
— feeno (@ArianFoster) March 16, 2020
Man we need start drug testing some of these GM’s and coaches lol #questionablemoves
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) March 16, 2020
— Kenny Stills (@KSTiLLS) March 16, 2020
A lot of #Texans players sharing how they feel on Instagram
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) March 16, 2020
Clowney: “Damn OB 😂😂😂”
Tunsil: “🤦🏾♂️” pic.twitter.com/QFMzmwkpK2
Cardinals: We want Hopkins
— 🌑 (@Kofie) March 16, 2020
Texans: No way man he’s too good
Cardinals: but what if we gave you... David Johnson
Texans: pic.twitter.com/wSsbGGPI6N
Why the hell did the Texans have to throw in a 4th rounder? The trade was already horrible when you are trading DeAndre Hopkins but O’Brien has to throw a pick of his own in there?
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) March 16, 2020
Get serious. #Texans
YOU TRADED DEANDRE HOPKINS FOR A RUNNING BACK!?
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) March 16, 2020
Bill O’Brien: “We’re trading DeAndre Hopkins.”
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) March 16, 2020
Deshaun Watson: pic.twitter.com/pXVAXRNvod
When they ask Deshaun about the Texans trading Hopkins pic.twitter.com/fUMOwLKC2I
— Grant Goldberg (@GrantGoldberg) March 16, 2020
Huh??? The Texans trading DeAndre Hopkins!?
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) March 16, 2020
Bill O’Brien the coach, needs to go slap the hell out of Bill O’Brien the GM, immediately!!!
Cardinals got rid of David Johnson's contract and GOT DEANDRE HOPKINS lolololol this is unreal
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) March 16, 2020
Bill O'Brien's work from home stint off to a bad start.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) March 16, 2020
It's almost like the #Texans don't have a GM. At least not one who's rational. https://t.co/yw4gOSon4W
— Danny O'Neil (@dannyoneil) March 16, 2020
😐
— Justin Reid (@jreid_viii) March 16, 2020
