That trade saved his job, so it seems like it worked out for him.
Texans coach Bill O'Brien suggested the team is not planning to hire a GM this offseason.
"The way I see it right now, it stays the way it is," O'Brien stated on the organization's infrastructure. The Texans' head coach has been acting as the de facto general manager since Houston parted ways with ex-GM Brian Gaine in June, leveraging the team's long-term assets to save his own job in the short-term. O'Brien, for example, swapped a third-round pick for Duke Johnson, shipped two first-round picks and a second-rounder to Miami for LT Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills, sent another third-rounder to Oakland for CB Gareon Conley, and essentially gifted Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks for a ham sandwich all in the span of six months. Executive VP of team development Jack Easterby has also reportedly had a say in the team's final decisions, but it's clear the Texans have handed O'Brien far too much power for an individual with just two playoff wins in his six-year tenure.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Jan 13, 2020, 2:01 PM ET
------ Just found that to be a hilarious and accurate write up of Bill O'Brien. We can be looking at a huge draft haul from them in 2021 if they aren't as lucky and the other teams keep improving.