Houston Texans acquired Pro Bowler David Johnson from Cardinals

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football in the first half of the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football in the first half of the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Houston Texans are acquiring David Johnson through trade from the Arizona Cardinals.

The Houston Texans addressed their need at running back through trade with NFL free agency set to start. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Houston is acquiring David Johnson from the Arizona Cardinals.

Texans could use Johnson in their backfield with Carlos Hyde, and Lamar Miller expected to test the waters in free agency. Johnson is a definite upgrade from a talent standpoint than the other running backs that Bill O’Brien coached the last couple of seasons, but Texans will have to be comfortable with his expensive contract for the next two seasons.

More from Toro Times

Johnson’s current contract isn’t set to expire until 2022, so Texans would be moving forward with Duke Johnson and him in the short term. He will command the third-highest cap figure at his position for this upcoming season at $14,156,250 and be the fourth best-paid running back in 2021 at $12 million.

O’Brien is no stranger in acquiring running backs through trade after acquiring Hyde and Johnson before the 2019 regular season started.

The Kansas City Chiefs approached the Texans in the trade for Hyde after Miller tore his ACL, but O’Brien has indicated a preference in acquiring running backs through trade.

O’Brien also did his due diligence at the trade deadline on Le’Veon Bell and his gargantuan contract with the New York Jets. Johnson is one of the elite running backs in the game when healthy as an all-purpose back, and the Texans could have one of the better core of running backs in the league.

UPDATE:

Schedule