The Texans traded their best football player one year ago today.
It's what feels like the beginning of the end for this team, even if there were earlier and clear signs of dysfunction.
But this is when it all culminated. Trading All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a second-round pick who eventually became defensive tackle Ross Blacklock.
At the time, we laughed off trade rumors. Longtime NFL insider Peter King wrote about a possible Hopkins trade in his column that morning, and our own legendary Texans insider John McClain did not outright dismiss it when he was on air with Payne and Pendergast.
The news broke on In The Loop. First, it was reported the Texans were trading for David Johnson, but it wasn't immediately clear Hopkins was part of the deal.
Then, ESPN's Adam Schefter and McClain dropped the bombs with details of the trade.
Seth Payne, our morning show co-host and an original Texan, was fraught.
The OG John P. Lopez, whose covered sports in Houston since 1990, was beside himself.
Afternoon host and former NFL quarterback Clint Stoerner called it "the dumbest trade" he's ever seen.
One year later, the franchise quarterback is demanding a trade. The new general manager is having to nickel and dime his way to roster building with a lower salary cap and limited draft picks.
J.J. Watt has since joined Hopkins in Arizona through free agency.
The Texans were just a couple of months removed from winning a playoff game in the AFC, albeit before blowing a 24-0 to the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round.
Maybe that game was the beginning of the end.
But the Hopkins trade is always going to hit different.
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