By: Frank Schwab - Yahoo! Sports
The biggest loser
Houston Texans ---- Grade F
Key additions: RB David Johnson (trade), WR Randall Cobb, S Eric Murray
Key losses: WR DeAndre Hopkins (traded), DT D.J. Reader
Notable re-signings/tags: K Ka’imi Fairbairn, CB Bradley Roby
The Texans took on the bloated contract of Johnson, who hasn’t recaptured his magic from 2016, and somehow surrendered perhaps the best receiver in the NFL to do it. They also overpaid Cobb (three years, $27 million) when it would have made much more sense to just re-do Hopkins’ contract. Cobb has 1,864 yards and nine touchdowns over the past three seasons combined; Hopkins averaged 1,372 yards and 10 touchdowns the past three seasons. Losing Reader in free agency is bad, too. This grade is easy after the Texans made one of the most confusing, one-sided trades in modern American pro sports history.
Atlanta Falcons ---- Grade C
Key additions: DE Dante Fowler Jr., RB Todd Gurley III, TE Hayden Hurst (trade)
Key losses: TE Austin Hooper, RB Devonta Freeman (released), CB Desmond Trufant, DE Vic Beasley, LB De’Vondre Campbell
Notable re-signings/tags: None
The Falcons were actually quite interesting. Fowler is an upgrade over Beasley and Gurley is an upgrade over Freeman, especially with Gurley getting a no-risk, one-year, $6 million deal. The Falcons paid a heavy price (a second- and fifth-round draft pick, with a fourth coming back from Baltimore) to get Hurst to replace Hooper, and losing Trufant and Campbell hurts.
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The biggest loser
Houston Texans ---- Grade F
Key additions: RB David Johnson (trade), WR Randall Cobb, S Eric Murray
Key losses: WR DeAndre Hopkins (traded), DT D.J. Reader
Notable re-signings/tags: K Ka’imi Fairbairn, CB Bradley Roby
The Texans took on the bloated contract of Johnson, who hasn’t recaptured his magic from 2016, and somehow surrendered perhaps the best receiver in the NFL to do it. They also overpaid Cobb (three years, $27 million) when it would have made much more sense to just re-do Hopkins’ contract. Cobb has 1,864 yards and nine touchdowns over the past three seasons combined; Hopkins averaged 1,372 yards and 10 touchdowns the past three seasons. Losing Reader in free agency is bad, too. This grade is easy after the Texans made one of the most confusing, one-sided trades in modern American pro sports history.
Atlanta Falcons ---- Grade C
Key additions: DE Dante Fowler Jr., RB Todd Gurley III, TE Hayden Hurst (trade)
Key losses: TE Austin Hooper, RB Devonta Freeman (released), CB Desmond Trufant, DE Vic Beasley, LB De’Vondre Campbell
Notable re-signings/tags: None
The Falcons were actually quite interesting. Fowler is an upgrade over Beasley and Gurley is an upgrade over Freeman, especially with Gurley getting a no-risk, one-year, $6 million deal. The Falcons paid a heavy price (a second- and fifth-round draft pick, with a fourth coming back from Baltimore) to get Hurst to replace Hooper, and losing Trufant and Campbell hurts.
FROM THE TIGER FAN SHOP: Click HERE to see all of our officially licensed CLEMSON apparel and gear!
