Two backups and a draft pick for the former number one overall pick

Texans deal Clowney for a paltry return

Jadeveon Clowney
Zach Tarrant/Houstontexans.com

The Texans dealt defensive standout Jadeveon Clowney Saturday morning. SportsMap's Fred Faour says O'Brien has completed his transformation into a super villain.

The compensation is underwhelming

The Texans got the same thing they would have earned had Clowney played a year and walked, which is a third round pick. The Seahawks get the second-best player on the Texans defense from last season.

The two players are both hopeful depth for the Texans pass rush.

Botched by Bill O'Brien

The Texans didn't trade Clowney back when other premier pass rushers were moved this offseason. Dee Ford and Frank Clark aren't as good as Jadeveon Clowney but went for MUCH higher compensation. The Texans reportedly checked in on trading Clowney but didn't get anywhere.

With no deal before the franchise tag extension deadline, Clowney's value plummeted. The Texans went from discussion about a starting left tackle in Miami to backup linebackers and a third round pick in a matter of days. Of course, that is because Clowney held all the cards.

The franchise tag let Clowney manipulate the situation. He won. He got what he wanted. He will play 2019 for a team which desires his services and could likely increase his value with another strong year of play.

O'Brien seemingly won in his eyes I am assuming. He went from wanting Jadeveon Clowney to not wanting him on the team. His reasoning is his own but the Texans didn't get better with this deal.

Questions still remain at running back and left tackle

The Texans still need a running back to pair with Duke Johnson and they could still use some help at left tackle. Matt Kalil is the projected starter at left tackle and the running backs on the roster besides Johnson have limited NFL snaps.

LeSean McCoy has been on the decline but might be one of the more worthwhile options.

Mingo might not have made the team

One addition in the trade is former LSU standout and former first round pick Barkevious Mingo. There have been many who cover the Seahawks who have speculated Mingo would not have made the team.

He has played for four different teams, three in the past three years, and has 10 career sacks. He graded out as decidedly average overall according to Pro Football Focus and slightly above average in pass rush.

Hope for Martin

Jacob Martin is a former sixth round pick for the Seahawks. He graded out as decidedly average overall according to Pro Football Focus and slightly above average in pass rush the same as Mingo. He has three sacks last year and 19 hurries.

Even Madden said no

Duane Brown weighs in

The Texans will likely look back and realize they shouldn't have traded either of these players to the Seahawks. The offensive line, especially left tackle, has been bad since Brown's departure.

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Houston Astros rotation hit with another setback

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The Astros beat the Angels, 14-3. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Yainer Díaz hit his first career grand slam in a six-run fifth inning and the Houston Astros had a season-high scoring total in a 14-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Díaz, who entered the game with just one RBI this year, had three hits and drove in a career-high five runs in the victory.

The Astros trailed by 1 with two outs and two on in the fifth when they tied it on an RBI single by Yordan Alvarez that rolled just out of reach of a diving Tim Anderson.

Christian Walker followed with an RBI single to put the Astros up 3-2. Jack Kochanowicz (1-1) walked Jeremy Peña to load the bases and was lifted for Garrett McDaniels.

Díaz sent his third pitch into the concourse in left center field for his first homer this season to make it 7-2. It was Houston’s first grand slam since Jose Abreu’s in a 12-3 win over Texas on Sept. 6, 2023.

Díaz added an RBI double as the Astros tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning.

Rookie Cam Smith doubled in the sixth and his first career home run made it 13-3 in the eighth.

Mike Trout hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for the Angels to give him six this year which is tied with last season for his most home runs through the first 13 games. It was the team’s 19th home run combined in the last six games, which is a franchise record for a six-game span — topping the 18 they hit in six games in the 2003 season

The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the second when Peña scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Meyers.

Los Angeles tied it on Trout’s home run off the wall above the seats in left field to open the fourth inning.

Kyren Paris opened the fifth with a double and scored on a single by Jo Adell to put the Angels up 2-1 before Houston took the lead with its outburst in the bottom of the inning.

Houston starter Ronel Blanco (1-1) allowed four hits and two runs in five innings for the win.

Key moment

The grand slam by Díaz that broke the game open.

Key stat

Nine of Houston’s runs came with two outs.

Up next

Houston RHP Ryan Gusto (1-0, 1.13 ERA) opposes LHP Tyler Anderson (0-0, 4.50) when the series continues Saturday night.

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