The One Contract Holding Back the Houston Texans

You'd be hard-pressed to name an NFL team that has endured a more turbulent offseason than the Houston Texans. Unfortunately for GM/head coach Bill O'Brien, it's just been one misstep after another.

However, none of his blunders live up to the inexplicable trade that sent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. In return, Houston received running back David Johnson and his bloated contract, in addition to a second-round pick.

This was an avoidable mess for the Texans, and now Johnson's deal is eating up valuable cap room.

After establishing himself as one of the NFL's most versatile RBs, the Cardinals gave a then 26-year-old Johnson a three-year, $39 million contract extension that included $30 million guaranteed prior to the start of the 2018 season.

There are still two years left on that deal, and Houston can't even cut its losses by jettisoning the former Pro Bowler. He's set for cap hits of $11.15 million in 2020 and $9 million in 2021. That's egregious for a player who was essentially benched by Arizona in favor of Chase Edmonds, a fourth-round pick out of Fordham, and eventually Kenyan Drake last season.

In 2019, Johnson's injury woes returned. Even when he was on the field (nine starts), he was largely ineffective, as he averaged a woeful 3.7 yards per carry. In total, the Northern Iowa product tallied less than 800 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns.

Johnson is now the Texans' fourth-highest paid player, and he shouldn't be anywhere close to it. The chances that he turns his career around are slim, at best, and fans have O'Brien to thank for this predicament.