Report: Texans did speak to Eagles about DeAndre Hopkins trade

The Houston Texans stunned many earlier this week by trading three-time All Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (AND a 2020 fourth-round pick) to the Arizona Cardinals for the mere cost of David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round pick.

Given the Philadelphia Eagles’ dire need at wide receiver, it was fair to wonder why Howie Roseman couldn’t find a way to acquire an elite talent like Hopkins. And now even more so considering NFL insider Adam Schefter told the 97.5 The Fanatic Morning Show with Marc Farzetta, Tra Thomas, and Bob Cooney that the Texans had conversations with the Eagles about Hopkins:

“The Texans did speak to the Eagles at one point about DeAndre Hopkins. And I think the Eagles decided at this point in this time, with everything that you were going to have to do, you were going to have to pay the Texans, you were going to have to pay Hopkins a new contract, give up compensation ... I think they decided that that wasn’t the right move. Now, I don’t know if that’s because this is maybe the deepest draft at wide receiver there is ever, or if they liked what they had, or if they had other ideas in mind. I don’t know why. But for whatever reason, I think they believe it wasn’t worth it. So, they did have conversations there.”

This news is certainly frustrating for a lot of Eagles fans who clearly wanted Hopkins in Philly:

As I wrote earlier this week, I haven’t gotten the sense the Eagles are aiming to spend big money at wide receiver. I do think they’ll sign (or trade for) a pass catcher or two in addition to adding talent at the position via the 2020 NFL Draft.

But the reality is the player(s) the Eagles acquire likely won’t be as good as Hopkins, who’s in the conversation for being the best receiver in the NFL. It’s understandable why people are frustrated that Roseman failed to beat Arizona’s offer to get this deal done.