When O’Brien made the trade with Miami, he did it because he wanted to protect his best player, and acquiring Tunsil and spending a first-round pick on Tytus Howard did fill big needs. However, the price for the Tunsil trade looked steep at the time and it’s even more glaring now — just more than a year later — with so many roster holes.

Of course, O’Brien never would have imagined having a high pick two years after finally protecting his franchise quarterback. But not only could the Texans have used the No. 26 pick in 2020 on a player who could make an immediate impact, but a top-10 pick in 2021 certainly could bring in a strong left tackle prospect. He wouldn’t cost an average of $22 million per season like Tunsil, either.

Per the ESPN Roster Management system, the Texans are spending more than $245 million in cash on their roster this season, more than any other team in the NFL. Even more of that money will be going toward Watson moving forward, and if Houston shows no progress the rest of the season, why would the team spend a similar amount next year?

No impact rookies

No draft capital means no young talent to build around. The Texans haven’t had the chance to draft many young impact players in recent years. While other teams are able to identify and capitalize on starters with salary cap-friendly rookie contracts, Houston’s roster is built around free-agent acquisitions and middling veterans.

In their Week 3 loss to the Steelers, the Texans did not have a single rookie play a snap from scrimmage on offense or defense. Only cornerback John Reid, a fourth-round pick, saw action on special teams.

Let that sink in. Not a single rookie. Second-round pick Ross Blacklock was inactive after he was ejected for punching a player in Week 2. Third-round pick Jonathan Greenard was inactive. Fourth-round tackle Charlie Heck was, you guessed it, a healthy scratch. Fifth-round wide receiver Isaiah Coulter is on injured reserve.

When listing the things Houston needs to improve, O’Brien said Sunday, “We’ve got to find a running game, a consistent running game.” O’Brien, of course, traded Hopkins for Johnson and a second-round pick (that turned into Blacklock) this offseason. The Texans also traded a third-round pick for Duke Johnson during training camp in 2019.

On the wrong path

Following the 2017 season, O’Brien signed a five-year extension that took him through the 2022 season. In January, he was also named the general manager. Now he is unemployed.

Regardless of how this season ends, it was clear to ownership that the franchise that has won the AFC South in four out of the last five years wasn’t on the right track moving forward. Houston will overhaul its front office and coaching staff.

It didn’t take long for the McNair family, the team’s owners, to rescind the faith it put into O’Brien. The McNairs have often said their goal is to bring a championship to the city of Houston. Winning an AFC South title isn’t the same as a Super Bowl and that’s why big changes are on the way.

Arizona’s offense struggled to get on the field. There was almost a 2-1 difference in time of possession in that first quarter. All of the Panthers’ five scoring drives were 60 yards or longer.

Arizona could barely get pressure on Bridgewater, hitting him three times but not getting a sack. All Pro pass-rusher Chandler Jones didn’t get a sack for a third straight game, leaving him sackless since Week 1.

The Cardinals gave up Bridgewater’s first rushing touchdown since 2015 and Mike Davis’ first rushing touchdown since 2018.

For as bad as the Cardinals’ defense played, however, the offense didn’t help itself. It had 30 yards after a quarter and just 94 at halftime. It finished with 262 yards, but was under 200 — 184 — after accounting for Kyler Murray’s 78 rushing yards.

Murray threw for just 133 yards, completing 24 of 31 passes and had three touchdowns.

And when the Cardinals needed a stop the most in the final 2 minutes, they gave up a first down run that kept the clock going, which led to the rest of the game being kneeled out.

Troubling trend: DeAndre Hopkins didn’t get his first target of the game until there were 55 seconds left in the first quarter. For the Cardinals’ offense to get ignited, Hopkins is the one player Arizona needs to get involved early. Sunday showed that if the Cardinals’ offense is struggling early, it may not have the luxury of trying to get other players involved while defenses focus on Hopkins, who finished with 41 yards on seven catches. Hopkins is the type of playmaker who can change the dynamics of a game quickly and needs to be used as such — early and often.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Defending the right side of the field. The Cardinals had some serious issues in the first half slowing down the Panthers when they ran plays to the right side. Some of it was because of overcommitments by the defensive front but Carolina used misdirection to their benefit — a lot like the Cardinals have earlier in the season — and the Cardinals’ defensive front bit.

Bold prediction for next week: Curtis Riley’s time as a starting safety — or a safety, in general — with the Cardinals has likely come to an end. He struggled in the first half and played the first snap of the third quarter before sitting until late in the third quarter. He returned to the field throughout the fourth quarter but if either Baker or Banjo returns from injury next week, Riley will likely return to the bench.