NO DEAL!
An insight into why the Packers passed on Will Fuller and the Texans
Nov 4, 2020, 12:55 pm
The Texans and Packers couldn't agree on a trade. Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Coming into the season, the Houston Texans had high expectations for Will Fuller. For the first time in his career, Fuller had an opportunity to prove himself as a top-tier receiver — given the absence of DeAndre Hopkins. While playing out the final year of his rookie contract, Fuller has flourished in his new role.
The 26-year-old wideout is on pace to record a career-best in receiving yards, while showing his improved durability playing in all seven games so far this season. Alas, Fuller's on-field production has not converted into wins for the Texans.
Houston enters Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars sitting at 1-6 on the season. Their atrocious record led to the general belief that the organization would be sellers at the trade deadline. Among the many players projected to be on the move was Fuller.
Several teams around the league had their eyes set on making a trade for the Notre Dame prodigy, but none more so than the Green Bay Packers — who expressed interest in adding Fuller's services alongside their All-Pro receiver Davante Adams. A depleted roster and lack of draft capital would have resulted in most teams taking any deal to recoup some assets. But interim head coach Romeo Crennel refused to make any substantial offer for peanuts.
"I wouldn't even put the No. 1 wide receiver label on me," Fuller said. I feel like we all can get it done. I don't have any added pressure. We're just out there having fun trying to get a win."
In any potential deal regarding Fuller, the Texans were seeking a second-round pick in return. The lofty asking price is the motive to why the Packers organization disagreed on whether or not to make a move for Fuller during the final hours of the trade deadline — according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.
In hindsight, it made sense for the Packers to stand pat and not mortgage their future in a trade for Fuller. Had Green Bay sent a second-round pick to Houston, the Packers might have fallen short of getting equal value in exchange.
Fuller's durability has been the pinnacle of his success this season, but it doesn't erase the injury-prone stigma that has plagued his career thus far. In addition to his health, does the acquisition of Fuller put the Packers closer to holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy? Not really. Adding a playmaker like Fuller would have undoubtedly improved Green Bay's chances, but not enough to push the Packers ahead of the Buccaneers and Seahawks.
However, the Packers' most significant reason why they elected not to make a deal for Fuller may center round his pending free agency. With Fuller scheduled to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season, there is a high possibility that the fifth-year receiver could have been an end-of-the-season rental for the Packers.
Given all the uncertainties, the Packers felt it was more reasonable for them to pass on Fuller. According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Green Bay was not the only team unwilling to pay the Texans' high asking price, as teams offered fourth and fifth-round picks for the Philadelphia native.
"I told him [Fuller] that I wanted him on the team, and I wanted all of these guys on the team," Crennel said during his media availability on Wednesday. "I did not want to trade anybody. Plus, I said I wasn't taking peanuts, and nobody came through with a deluxe nuts package. If there had been some deluxe nuts laid out there on the table, it could have been a different deal."
Coty M. Davis is a reporter for ESPN 97.5 Houston/SportsMap covering the Houston Texans. He is also the co-host of Locked On Texans, a part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Follow Coty on Twitter @CotyDavis_24.
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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.