Bill O'Brien: DeAndre Hopkins trade made 'in best interests' of Texans - Houston Chronicle

Bill O’Brien said Thursday that DeAndre Hopkins’ contract was the reason the All-Pro receiver was traded to Arizona last month.

In his first news conference since the Hopkins trade, the Texans' coach and general manager mentioned three times Hopkins’ pursuit of a new deal with three years left on his contract precipitated the trade.

“DeAndre is a great player, and he made a lot of great plays for us,” O’Brien said in a Zoom conference call with the media that lasted almost an hour. “With three years left on his contract — relative to the salary cap this year and two years after that — we thought it was in the best interests of the team to make the deal.”

O’Brien wouldn’t comment on Hopkins allegedly telling the NFL Network’s Michael Irvin that he had a conversation with O’Brien, and the coach brought up the late New England tight end Aaron Hernandez. Hopkins told Irvin that O’Brien disclosed to him it was the first conversation he’d had like that with a player since he was an assistant with the Patriots and coached Hernandez, who committed suicide in prison in 2017 while serving a life sentence following a murder conviction.

“I would say I have no comment on that,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said it would be difficult to pay Hopkins what he wanted — a deal in the $20 million-a-year range like Atlanta gave Julio Jones last season — when they’re already paying defensive end J.J. Watt and plan to pay quarterback Deshaun Watson and left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Watt has two years left on his contract and could have his deal restructured. Watson is expected to get close to $40 million a year, and Tunsil should end up in the $20 million-a-year range.

Hopkins, who signed an extension in 2017, had outplayed his contract with the Texans. His base salary this season is $12.5 million. The Cardinals said this week they’re trying to work out a new deal with him.

The Texans sent Hopkins and a fourth-round pick in next week’s draft to the Cardinals for running back David Johnson and the 40th overall pick — eighth in the second round — and a fourth-round selection next year.

Asked about not getting more for Hopkins, O’Brien said, “He had three years left on his contract, and you try to find a trade partner that could afford him.

“We feel good about David Johnson. He passed his physical with flying colors this week. We’re excited about having the 40th pick, too. This is very much incomplete. We’ve got several more moves, and the draft is next week.

“I would say this to the fans, ‘Please let it play out.’ Whether it’s the trade or any other moves we’ve made, let it play out.”

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2020-04-16 21:09:07Z
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