Change My Mind: The Texans Should Trade for Patrick Peterson

We are just a little over two weeks ahead of the annual NFL Trade Deadline, a day that did not draw much ire in years past but did bring a flurry of activity a year ago. Last year, the Texans participated by trading Duane Brown and a fifth-round pick to Seattle for a third-rounder in 2018 and a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

This trade gave the Texans an extra second-rounder this year, meaning the Texans currently have three of the first 64 picks of the 2019 NFL Draft. Given that both Houston and Seattle will likely not be Super Bowl contenders, it seems likely the Texans have three of the first 50 or so picks in April.

I say that because of this:

Trading the Arizona Cardinals a Top-50 pick, along with possibly another late Day 3 pick, could be entice Arizona to send seven-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson to Houston.

If they struck such a deal, the Texans would still have two picks in the first two rounds while likely fixing, or at least greatly lessening, their problems at cornerback, especially because Peterson is an answer that will last beyond this season.

Peterson, 28, is playing in his eighth NFL season and is still one of the elite corners the league has to offer. The Texans would likely spend one of their top picks on a corner anyhow, so why take the risk of drafting a young question mark in the first two days when you can acquire one of the league’s best players in their prime with one of those picks?

Peterson is making $11 million this season and will be making that much next season as well. He sees a slight raise in 2020 to $12 million and does not become a free agent until 2021. That means any team that acquired him would have Peterson for the rest of 2018 and the next two seasons as well, all at a very affordable price.

The Texans are still competing this year. Despite their ugly 0-3 start, the team is tied for the AFC South lead right now and still has life in what’s turned out to be a rather lifeless division. And if this squad could make any upgrades, corner (or offensive line) is probably the first place you’d look if you were in Brian Gaine’s shoes.

Here’s what the top receiver has done in each of the offenses against the Texans this season:

Week 1 - Philip Dorsett - 7 rec, 66 yds, 1 TD.

Week 2 - Corey Davis - 5 rec, 55 yds.

Week 3 - Odell Beckham Jr. - 9 rec, 109 yds.

Week 4 - T.Y. Hilton - 4 rec, 115 yds.

Week 5 - Tavon Austin - 1 rec, 44 yds.

Week 6 - Kelvin Benjamin - 2 rec, 43 yds.

The pattern seen in the first six weeks is either top receivers are balling out against the Texans or they are at least achieving a big play or two. Houston has had a difficult time giving up big plays this season, so putting the Patrick Peterson blanket on a team’s top weapon is definitely a positive for Houston.

With all of this into consideration, I ask you, BRB, to change my mind. Tell me why the Texans shouldn’t send a second round pick to Arizona for Patrick Peterson.