DeAndre Hopkins to Cardinals
The big trade for the Buffalo Bills acquired Stefon Diggs was the Houston Texans sending DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals, along with a fourth round pick (131st overall) for running back David Johnson a 2020 second-round pick (40th overall) and a 2021 fourth round pick.
This was the trade that started to raise the question about whether or not the Buffalo Bills paid too much for Diggs. In all honesty it is a valid question but this deal shouldn’t be compared to the Hopkins deal because a team undervalues the talent they have.
Hopkins is 27 years old, only one year older than Diggs, and has averaged 5.7 receptions, 78.2 receiving yards and .49 touchdowns per game. In terms of contract, Diggs wins here with one more year and lower yearly cap hit while Hopkins is in entering his third season of a five-year, $81 million contract.
For the Cardinals to get Hopkins it only cost them their second round pick, which is 18 picks later than the Bills first round pick at 22nd. They also sent David Johnson, who has not looked like a top running back since 2016.
This was the trade that opened the questions about whether the Buffalo Bills overpaid, and rightfully so because the Cardinals got a good wide receiver for a much lower cost. However, it is hard to punish what the Bills front office did by comparing it to the Texans poor deal making.