Houston Texans Swap Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins For Brandin Cooks

By Jordan Long

The Houston Texans have been busy with trades this offseason.  The Head Coach for the Texans is Bill O’Brien who is also their general manager.   He made a head-scratching trade on  March 16 when Houston swapped their best wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona and a 4th round pick in this years’ NFL Draft for running back David Johnson, a 2nd round pick in the draft, and a 4th round pick in 2021.  O’Brien hopes he found Hopkins’ replacement in Brandin Cooks.

                Hopkins is one of the top wide receivers in the game.  He is still in his prime at 27 years old.  Hopkins was with the Texans since they drafted him in 2013.  

For the Texans, all he did was produce on the football field.  A wide receiver wants to have 1,000 yards receiving.  Hopkins achieved that every season but 2.  In his career to this point, Hopkins totaled 8,602 receiving yards and 54 touchdowns with an average yards per catch of 13.6 yards.

When Hopkins caught the football, he was usually a step ahead of the defensive backs.  With his speed, it made it difficult for defenders to tackle him.  Once they did, it was a large gain that helped the Texans move the chains and keep drives alive, ending in points.  Hopkins holds the ball tight near his body and rarely fumbled with 7 fumbles but lost 5.

After the Texans dealt Hopkins there was a glaring need for a number 1 wide receiver.  They acquired Brandin Cooks from the L.A. Rams and a future 4^th round pick for a 2^nd round pick in this years’ draft.

                Cooks is a year younger than Hopkins at 26 years old and been in the league one less year.  In those seasons he went over the 1,000-yard mark 4 times.  Cooks has 5,730 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns with an average yards per catch of 14.3 yards.  Cooks protects the football more with 3 fumbles but has yet to lose one.

                This is a puzzling move by O’Brien. Hopkins is the better wide receiver with 2,872 more yards and 20 more touchdowns compared to Cooks.   Hopkins could be a Hall of Fame player when his career is all said and done.  Cooks is a decent wide receiver but isn’t on the level of Hopkins. 

                O’Brien wants this move to work out for the Texans.  Cooks might be able to catch the football and to help the Texans drive down the field.  The production might not be as high as Hopkins.  Hopefully, this move works out.  If not, it could cost O’Brien his job.