Houston Texans smart in keeping Laremy Tunsil out of trade talks

If the Houston Texans do make trades, don’t expect Laremy Tunsil to be traded.

The Houston Texans have reportedly told teams that four players are off limits in potential trades, including left tackle Laremy Tunsil who signed a three-year contract extension this past offseason. Others on that reported list are franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, second-year right tackle Tytus Howard, and team all-time sacks leader J.J. Watt.

Though it is easy to see the Houston Texans are making the correct decision in not trading Watson, Tunsil and Howard, but there is an argument to be made about trading Watt, but that is for another day and article.

This is about how smart the Houston Texans are in not trading Tunsil at the trade deadline or anytime soon. If the Texans are keeping Watson — which 100 percent happening — he must have a franchise left tackle by his side. That is where Tunsil comes into play, and for good reason.

Tunsil has played in 100 percent of the Houston Texans offensive snaps though the first seven games of 2020, and in those 427 snaps he’s had just two penalties (one holding, one false start), and he hasn’t allowed a sack all season. Players like that are hard to find.

Houston Texans: Teams don’t just trade franchise left tackles

The Houston Texans made a mistake a few seasons ago when they traded Duane Brown at the trade deadline. It took the Texans trading two first round picks, and a second round pick to land Tunsil, plus they had to re-sign him to a large contract to keep him for multiple seasons.

The biggest mistake that Houston Texans could make at the trade deadline is to trade a left tackle, except for trading Watson, but as we all know that neither is happening anytime soon.

When it comes to Tytus Howard if he’s not on the trade list that is a very smart move for the Texans as well, because not only was he a first round pick in 2019, and the starting right tackle, maybe one day down the line he’ll end up being the left tackle of the Texans. It is a possibility, right?

Howard has played in 99 percent of the offensive snaps for the Texans, and in 424 snaps he’s committed two false starts and one holding penalty. Also for Howard, he’s allowed one sack in seven games which isn’t bad either.

As for getting to the Nov. 3 trade deadline for the Houston Texans keeping their two tackles makes for a very smart football move, and maybe it is the start of many smart decisions for this franchise as they try to rebuild their team into a contender for next season.