The Houston Texans have been busy today, executing a pair of blockbuster trades that go a long way toward shaking up their roster.
We mentioned the Jadeveon Clowney trade earlier in Bullets, but it’s the Texans’ second deal that has stolen the spotlight:
Full Terms: The #Texans get LT Laremy Tunsil, WR Kenny Stills and a fourth rounder. … The #Dolphins get 2 first-rounders, a second rounder, ST Johnson Bademosi and OL Julien Davenport, per me, @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019
The Miami Dolphins have traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills, and a fourth-round pick to the Texans. In exchange for that haul, Houston is sending Miami two first-round picks, a second-round selection, defensive back Johnson Bademosi, and offensive lineman Julien Davenport.
Let’s put it this way: Houston just traded more (in terms of draft capital) to get Tunsil than the Bears did to get Khalil Mack or the Browns to acquire Odell Beckham Jr., so let that sink in for a moment. Mack is a top-5 player in the game and Beckham is a game-changing receiver with three Pro Bowls under his belt. And while Tunsil plays a position in which you would traditionally pay through the nose to acquire a top-tier proven player, he isn’t at that level. Clearly, the Texans hope he will be at some point. Otherwise, they gave up a ton to protect Deshaun Watson’s blindside with a 2016 first-round pick with upside, but has yet to establish himself as a true franchise left tackle. Oh, and they haven’t even started the process of working toward an extension with a player they just mortgaged a ton of draft picks to acquire.
Then again, what else would you expect from a team that is operating without a general manager?
On the other side of the ledger, we have the Dolphins, who traded away their left tackle and one of their better receivers to recoup a haul of picks that will assist in their rebuild. Getting two first-round picks, a second-rounder, and a pair of lottery tickets who could cash out and fit on a rebuilding roster is a heck of a move for Miami. But part of me wonders if the Dolphins should have been trying to retain a player like Tunsil, because protecting Josh Rosen should probably be prioritized. Perhaps the team will use the picks that were landed to make that happen. Only time will tell.