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Hours after sending Jadeveon Clowney to Seattle for very little, this seems like a big deal:
Blockbuster: The #Dolphins are trading franchise LT Laremy Tunsil and WR Kenny Stills to the #Texans in exchange for a huge package of picks, including a first-rounder, sources tell me, @MikeGarafolo, and @TomPelissero. The moves are contingent on players passing physicals.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019
Clearly, adding Laremy Tunsil to the Texans would be a good thing, but what’s the cost?
Worst of all, this is a win-now moving coming just hours after trading Jadeveon Clowney, a true difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball.
This trade seems like yet another desperation move by a front office with no plan, no strategy, and no idea what they are doing, but we’ll see.
UPDATE I: The Texans are mortgaging their future for Tunsil.
The #Dolphins are getting a massive haul of picks back from the #Texans: two first-round picks and a second-rounder, sources tell me, @RapSheet and @TomPelissero
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 31, 2019
UPDATE II: It’s not just draft picks involved in acquiring Tunsil and Stills.
There are #Texans players going to the #Dolphins as well, source said. I’m told they are ST Johnson Bademosi and OL Julien Davenport. Complicated trade.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019
UPDATE III: The Texans will also get a draft pick back from Miami in the Tunsil/Stills deal.
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
UPDATE IV: A few quick thoughts:
- It seems to me, at least, that Bill O’Brien is mortgaging the Texans’ future to win this year. Before trading Clowney, that might have been reasonable. After trading Clowney, though, my old UT intramural team could drop 30 on the Texans’ defense, and we’re all about 50 now.
- The Tytus Howard, left tackle of the future experiment, is over.
- If you have any doubt about how poorly Brian Gaine handled this offseason before he got fired, this should put all doubts of that to rest.
- BOB has no grand strategy. He’s just flailing around at this point.
- This is a lot to give up for Tunsil. The Bears gave up two first rounders for Khahil Mack, but Mack is truly elite at his position. Left tackles are more valuable than pass rushers - not by much! - but we gave up more for Tunsil, who is above average but not yet elite.
- As for the season, today doesn’t move the needle much. The Texans’ defense got much, much worse today, but Deshaun Watson has a better chance of staying vertical and clean for the entire season. That said, only two of our offensive line positions are remotely competent - Tunsil and wherever Zach Fulton plays - so there’s still work to do on the offensive line.