Teams are continuing to chop and change on cut-down day. Miami Dolphins have traded third year left-tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills and a fourth round pick to the Houston Texans in return for two future first round picks, a future second round pick as well as John Bademosi and Julien Davenport.
The Dolphins have now officially entered “tank mode” under first year head coach Brian Flores. One can’t blame the Dolphins as they have been one of the NFL’s middling franchises for decades. Miami will now hope to follow in the footsteps of the Cleveland Browns and L.A. Rams as “phoenix teams” boosted by tanking for high draft picks and increased salary cap space.
However, left tackle, behind quarterback and pass rusher, is one of the most important positions in football. Many a quarterback’s career has been ruined by not benefiting from a solid offensive line, recent retiree Andrew Luck springs to mind. Ryan Fitzpatrick must act as the sacrificial lamb for the Dolphins this season as under no circumstances can Josh Rosen be sent out to his death playing for this Dolphins team.
For the Texans, this is a costly bounty to give up for Tunsil and Stills. After failing to obtain New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio, to refusing to take advantage of the Trent Williams situation in Washington, waiting too long to trade Jadeveon Clowney so his value plummets and now mortgaging the immediate future – Bill O’Brien has had a questionable summer.
This trade has made it very apparent that the Texans believe their Super Bowl window is now. In the wake of Andrew Luck’s retirement the Houston Texans are firm favourites to win the AFC South, however if Houston once again flames out in the first round then Bill O’Brien’s title as king of the ashes will fair him well on the unemployment line this January.