It was the trade heard around the world. In a completely unexpected move, the Houston Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins -- one of the best players in the NFL -- to the Arizona Cardinals along with a 2020 fourth-round pick. In exchange, they received running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick in a move that was immediately skewered by analysts who viewed it as a fleecing of general manager Bill O'Brien and his Texans. 

Things immediately took a dark turn following the move, with reports surfacing regarding a controversial conversation between O'Brien and Hopkins that preceded the decision to sent the four-time All-Pro receiver packing, but Hopkins has opted to not fuel the rumors -- that include both an alleged contract dispute and a comparing of him to Aaron Hernandez. As both sides work to move on from the twisted divorce, one that floored quarterback Deshaun Watson when he caught wind of the team's decision, Hopkins has quickly acclimated to his new home in Arizona and his coming role in helping them return to prominence.

That's Watson's goal as well with the Texans, but it'll be far more challenging without Hopkins there to help him. The latter believes the former has it in him to find a way to stack wins though, as evidenced in Hopkins' vote of confidence in Watson in a recent interview with ESPN's Jalen & Jacoby. 

"I wish Deshaun the best. He's one of my best friends," Hopkins said. "Not just on the football field, but off the field [as well]. I wish him the best. Deshaun's a warrior -- a competitor. As long as he has his football in his hand, that's all he cares about. 

"I know that personally from him, from knowing him over the years. Deshaun's an elite quarterback. The best quarterback I ever got a chance to play with -- so far. He's able to make players better, and I'm pretty sure that that's what he's going to do. He's going to rally his team up to help them win. I wish him nothing but the best."

The Texans have exercised the fifth-year option on Watson and have opened talks on a potential contract extension, and time will tell if/when it lands, but it's expected to make him one of the highest-paid players ever -- if not the highest-paid for a period of time. 

Watson won't be devoid of offensive targets in 2020, so the only question is can the wide receiver corps step up to replace the production of Hopkins, who has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven years at the NFL level -- narrowly missing a sixth by only 46 yards. Additionally, Hopkins reeled in more than 1,500 yards with 11 touchdowns in two of those seasons, one being as recently as 2018, when he also grabbed a career high 70.6 percent of passes thrown his way. And considering some of his catches are now the stuff of legend (and even a non-catch or two), it's not hard to see what the Texans gave up on in 2020.

The onus is now on Randall Cobb, Brandin Cooks and Kenny Stills to lead the way for Watson, with Cooks being eyed more justifiably as a possible replacement for Hopkins. None of the three have the resume of the new Cardinals' wideout, however, so Watson might have to consistently find ways to be even more magical going forward than he's often been in the past.

If he can, as Hopkins believes, there might be a reunion in the works -- albeit from opposite sides of the field. 

"I'm in the NFC, so I hope I see him in the Super Bowl," Hopkins said. "But obviously, his best target, a guy that he can depend on, not being there for him — I'm pretty sure that would impact any quarterback's game."