Houston Texans: The future looks bright after the Miami Dolphins trade

The Houston Texans got what they paid for when they gave sacrificed draft picks for proven talent.

The Houston Texans took a calculated risk in mortgaging their immediate future by trading their next two first-round selections and 2021 second-round pick for acquiring Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, and a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick.

Texans gave little in return in player personnel by trading Julien Davenport and Johnson Bademosi for two quality starters in Tunsil and Stills. The Texans only allowed 49 sacks after allowing 62 sacks the previous season, and Tunsil earned Pro Bowl accolades after a successful first year in Houston.

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Tunsil started in 14 games and was a difference-maker for the offensive line. Despite committing 14 false starts through the regular season, Tunsil was one of the better pass protectors in the league and made the offensive line better with him playing 86 percent of the snaps on offense.

Tunsil is one of the better blindside tackles in the game at 25 years of age and the Texans still have the fifth-year option for the 2020 season in his rookie scale contract. Without a doubt, the Texans will have to make him one of the highest-paid tackles in the game, but he showed enough promise in his first year to warrant those numbers in his next contract.

The Texans saw life without a top tier tackle after trading Duane Brown to the Seattle Seahawks and won’t want to go through that again.

Meanwhile, Stills was a bright spot in his own right as a wide receiver for the Texans. Stills finished the season with 55 receptions, four touchdown catches, 561 receiving yards, and averaging 14 yards per catch.

Stills proved to be a very good third option in the offense for Deshaun Watson and showed to be an excellent option to have alongside DeAndre Hopkins with Will Fuller dealing with injuries throughout the season.

Stills remains under contract through the 2020 season at only $7 million, he could earn himself a contract extension if he replicates the success he had in the 2019 season.

Texans got two quality starters in what turned out to be a great trade for the offense as they continue to build a team around Watson.