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

Texans deal Clowney for a paltry return

Cody Stoots
Aug 31, 2019, 11:42 am
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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How Houston Texans latest comments are NFL equivalents of a participation trophy

It more of the same from the Houston Texans. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Sunday afternoon provided a high-res snapshot of the state of Houston sports. The Astros, already assured of the best record in the American League, played a game they didn’t need to win. The Astros won, ho-hum, their 104th win of the season.

Meanwhile, eight miles away, the Texans, mired in last place with fan support dwindling, played a game they really needed to win. The Texans lost 34-24 to the Los Angeles Chargers in front of (giggle) 69,071 fans at NRG Stadium. The Texans really ought to stop saying the stands are packed. Every time a team punts, and cameras follow the ball skyward, there are thousands of empty seats on display. I know the NFL methodology for determining attendance, (total tickets sold, no-shows don’t count) but it just looks silly when the Texans announce 69,000 fans.

The Texans came close as usual before sputtering to another defeat. The Texans now stand at 0-3-1, the only winless team in the NFL. It’s the second time in three years they’ve started a season without a victory after four games. It’s telling to note that not one of the Texans opponents has a winning record for 2022.

In other words, the Texans have played four games they shoulda/coulda won. Shouda against the Colts, Broncos and Bears, and coulda against the Chargers.

Should/coulda four wins. Instead, none.

That’s the Texans. They’re in every game but can’t close the deal. Yeah, yeah, on Monday we hear, “the Texans are playing hard for coach Lovie Smith” and “they’re competitive” and “they’re a young team.” These are NFL equivalents of a participation trophy.

Sunday’s loss to the Chargers at NRG Stadium was straight out of the Texans playbook. Fall behind, make it interesting, lose. The Texans stuck to their script, timid play calling, momentum-crushing penalties (nine for 67 yards), self-inflicted drops, lackluster quarterbacking and Rex Burkhead on the field for crunch time. After one play where a Texan player was called for holding, the announcer said, “and he did a poor job of holding.”

Statuesque quarterback David Mills keeps saying “we’re in a good spot” and “we’re improving.” Statuesque as in he doesn’t move – or barely moves to avoid sacks. Sunday saw his first touchdown pass to a wide receiver. He’s now thrown four interceptions in the past two games. Let’s go to the tote board: 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 4 fumbles, 11 sacks, qbr rating 28.5 – good for 28th in the league.

A bright spot, sort of. This was the first week the Texans didn’t cover the spread. They’re now 1-2-1 against Vegas oddsmakers, meaning you’ve won money if you took the Texans all four weeks. They head to Jacksonville next as early 6.5-point underdogs.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s brilliant quarterback Bryce Young, who will be available for the Texans when they draft first in 2023 (as Paul Heyman says, that’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler), suffered a shoulder injury last Saturday. The Texans need to take out a Lloyds of London insurance policy on Young.

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