I just checked the Texans cap situation and they really should be able to give him a new deal, but it won't be for as much as he wants unless they backload it.....which probably isn't what he wants. The Texans have about 10 mil worth of cap space to play with so they can give him a better deal, but not a top tier WR type contract.
Smith didn't get an extension and raise because he gives everyone whatever they want. That's not how it works.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DeAndre Hopkins, per source, did not leave camp. He never reported. Major procedural differences. Story coming at PFT.</p>— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/759408139280130048">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DeAndre Hopkins changed his representation to CAA this past season. Called in the heavy hitters to rep him. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/759403831843094533">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Hopkins has an argument, it is the fact that J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus were both given extensions before both rookie deals were up.</p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/759405972385173504">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update: Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins did not report to training camp. He now will be subject to fines of $40,000 for each day missed.</p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/759406895123697664">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Pay that man his just do. But I understand your point here. Maybe we don't have it and would have to drop a few contracts to get him what he wants. Which will be around 60-70 guarantee and 17-20 million a year.
I guess he learned from his mentor Andre. I hope the Texans don't cave. Front office needs to see what kind of chemistry he was with Osweiller and how he fits in O'Brien's system now that they have a bunch of weapons on offense.
17 a year would make him by far the highest paid WR in the game, the highest paid WR's average 15 mil a year. The Texans have 10 mil to play with meaning that they could get him up around 12 mil unless they wanted to cut Vince Wilfork and then they could get him a bit more. I think if he wants the deal early he should take a discount on it and make up for that with a higher guarantee.
Nuk doesn't have very much leverage though, the Texans have him under contract for this year, next year, and could keep him 2 more seasons after that. With this year and 3 more under team control, what are you going to threaten? Skip 4 years in your prime? Retire? If the Texans want to play hardball, there's nothing Nuk can do about it.
The problem with this is that JJ was the best player in the league so his deal was going to get done no matter what, and the Texans were able to lowball Mercilus due to a lack of performance. With Hopkins it's a bit different. They can't lowball him, and he's not going to get a record breaking deal. As others have noted there it a lot of WR depth now, so the Texans aren't negotiating from a position of need
The Mercilus contract extension does Nuk no favors in this situation. Watt's could, however. Ultimately I think something gets done, but I wish Hopkins had shown a little more patience.
As long as he's on the field by the first game, I'm not too worried. I just think the guy deserves to get paid. I have a hard tome believing we'll invest that much in a quarterback, an unproven one, and then bungle negotiations with his top weapon, and one of the top three weapons in the league. That's Browns level. Won't happen here. It may not be today or tomorrow, but Hopkins will get his new contract. Both sides know it. It's just a pissing match of both sides trying to call the other's bluff right now. I think negotiations will start within a week.
Texans have aleady set a precedence of extending players (and staff members) early. Don't flake out now on your #1 WR, a Top 5 WR in the league.
Exactly. The guy deserves it just as much as Watt and Merci did. Problem is, his new agents advising him to hold out throws a fork in the road. I think the Texans will not negotiate for a time period, just to avoid a bad perception, but they know he deserves it, and they will give him a contract. It'll just tale a little time.
JJ Watt is a historic type player, but DeAndre can argue he's one of the best players in the league. Top 25 at any position at least.
F*** everything about this. He deserves more, and the Texans have every right not to cave in. But this s*** needs to get resolved and fast. I say pay him what he deserves, because I'd rather worry about cap issues later than chemistry issues at this point.
well that came out of left field to preston tucker's glove and dropped. Next year should be the season he could do this without getting any eye rolls.
This doesn't seem right. Judging by the Texans' recent history, they've always taken care of thier guys. Watt, Foster, Schaub... They all got thier contracts before it ever came close to anything like this. Andre held out during mini camp I believe, but his concerns were addressed quickly. I hope this isn't Hopkins' new agency holding out for not only more money, but rather highest paid in the league money. That could definetly be a possibility.
