Report: Dolphins trade OT Laremy Tunsil and WR Kenny Stills to Texans for draft picks
The Houston Texans have sent away star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney and acquired a possible starting running back in Carlos Hyde. Now, they’re reportedly making their biggest move yet Sunday.
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The Texans have acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills in exchange for a massive collection of draft picks, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
In exchange for two of their top remaining players, the rebuilding Dolphins will reportedly receive two first-round picks, one second-round pick and some additional pieces.
Full terms of Texans/Dolphins trade, per source ...
Dolphins get: 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick, 2021 second-round pick, CB Johnson Bademosi, OT Julie'n Davenport.
Texans get: OT Laremy Tunsil, WR Kenny Stills, 2020 fourth-round pick, 2021 sixth-round pick.— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 31, 2019
The 25-year-old Tunsil and 27-year-old Stills are both under contract for two more seasons.
With the move, the Texans are gearing up for a run at a wide-open AFC South now that the Indianapolis Colts have lost Andrew Luck to surprise retirement. Clowney might have helped with that though, so it’s hard to make out what exactly the Texans’ master plan is.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are clearly set for a full rebuild this season.
Deshaun Watson gets one of the NFL’s most promising left tackles
The addition of Tunsil is great news for one man in particular: Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
After the infamous gas mask bong incident that led to him sliding down draft boards in 2016, Tunsil had developed into one of the best players on the Dolphins.
#Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil has started to show why he was worth a first-round pick in 2016 💪#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/aGeIfjGXiz
— PFF MIA Dolphins (@PFF_Dolphins) March 6, 2019
Tunsil was so valued in the Dolphins locker room that it was said players would legitimately “revolt” if the franchise traded him away. That is now a reality, and new Dolphins head coach Brian Flores’ job might have suddenly got a lot harder.
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The loss of Tunsil takes away the best player from what Pro Football Focus already ranked as the worst offensive line in the NFL. No matter if it’s Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh Rosen under center, things could ugly in the Dolphins backfield this year.
Of course, that’s probably by design, as the Dolphins have been previously reported to be very interested in drafting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in next year’s draft. The tank is on.
Dolphins 2020 draft picks:
1st: Own, Texans
2nd: Own, Saints
3rd: Own, projected compensatory pick
4th: Own, Titans
5th: Projected compensatory pick
6th: Own, Cowboys
7th: Own, Chiefs
Also: Texans’ 2021 first and second round picks— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 31, 2019
Dolphins trade Kenny Stills after ownership criticism, Jay-Z battle
Tunsil is the big piece moving in this trade, but the addition of Stills is certain to raise some eyebrows given his past conflicts with the team’s owner and head coach.
Stills made headlines earlier this month by criticizing Dolphins owner Stephen Ross for hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump. That outspokenness led to multiple death threats being sent Stills’ way, but the wide receiver didn’t back down.
Stills eventually met with Ross and agreed to disagree over Trump. However, another conflict was born days later when Stills, who was among the many players who knelt during the national anthem to protest for social justice, criticized rapper Jay Z for saying the movement is “past kneeling” as he announced a partnership with the NFL.
Then Flores went ahead and blasted Jay-Z during Dolphins practice, a not-so-subtle needle at one of his players. Flores later said he played the songs to “challenge” Stills, who countered with some music of his own by playing Nas in the locker room, who has long feuded with Jay-Z.
Now, Stills is out of the Dolphins organization, and you have to imagine the last month could be a major part of that.
Texans have overhauled their team
In the span of a few hours on Sunday, the Texans have overhauled both their roster and their future. And poor JJ Watt just wanted a peaceful day on the golf course.
Kid on the golf course just broke news to me about my own team.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 31, 2019
In addition to trading away Jadeveon Clowney for edge defenders Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin and acquiring Carlos Hyde, Tunsil and Stills, the Texans also reportedly acquired cornerback and special teams contributor Keion Crossen in a trade with the New England Patriots.
All of those trades add up like this:
IN: OT Laremy Tunsil, WR Kenny Stills, CB Keion Crossen, DE Barkevious Mingo, DE Jacob Martin, one third-round pick, one fourth-round pick, one sixth-round pick.
OUT: DE Jadeveon Clowney, OT Martinas Rankin, CB Johnson Bademosi, OT Julie'n Davenport, two first-round picks, one second-round pick, one sixth-round pick.
Given Clowney’s immense value on defense, it’s hard to say for sure if the Texans come out on top roster-wise there. However, what you can definitely say is the team has been aggressive, for better or worse.
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