Report: Cardinals RB David Johnson a trade target of Texans, others
Mar 16, 2020, 9:19 AM | Updated: 10:35 am
Cardinals running back David Johnson didn't touch the ball once against San Francisco, raising questions about his future.(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
UPDATE: The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly made a trade with the Texans involving DeAndre Hopkins and David Johnson. To read more, visit the story on our site here.
The Houston Texans are one of four teams exploring a trade for Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, reports the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson.
The report came less than an hour after the Cardinals placed a transition tag on fellow running back Kenyan Drake, who usurped Johnson as the No. 1 running back in the final eight games of the 2019 season.
Johnson averaged 3.7 yards per carry for 345 total yards and added 370 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a pass-catcher in 2019.
A mid-season injury and Arizona’s trade of a conditional late-round pick in exchange for Drake pushed the 2016 Pro Bowler to a limited role as Drake rushed for 643 yards and eight scores.
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told Doug & Wolf of Arizona Sports in February that Arizona would not cut Johnson, adding that he and Drake would compete for the starting role if the team brought both of them back next season.
“Cutting him is not an option,” Keim said. “Not only the cap hit but you’re still paying the cash. It wouldn’t be responsible for me or the organization to do that. If David Johnson isn’t the starter, he still has a significant role. The guy still create big-time mismatches in the passing game. He still brings kick return ability. You can’t just have one back — you have to have a platoon of backs. There are enough carries to go around there.”
Johnson, of course, broke out in 2016, his second NFL season. He rushed for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 879 yards and four more scores as a receiver.
There remains the possibility that Drake does not return and Arizona wants Johnson to return. The Cardinals can opt not to match a significant offer put in front of Drake, who is expected to command interest as arguably the best back on the market. Tennessee Titans free agent running back Derrick Henry was franchise-tagged Monday, taking him out of the conversation for other teams.
In terms of depth, the Cardinals can afford to lose one of their running backs.
Backup Chase Edmonds performed well when he saw the field in 2019, rushing for 303 yards on 60 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and four touchdowns.
Trading Johnson would net Arizona significant cap relief for 2020 and the future. Johnson will make a base salary of $10.2 million this year — about $2 million more than Drake’s one-year tender by being tagged — and is counting $14.2 million against the cap.
Johnson will count $12 million against the cap in 2021.
