Should the Texans have kept draft picks over Laremy Tunsil?
Houston Texans picks will help Miami to keep rebuilding
The Houston Texans played so poorly they allowed the Miami Dolphins to gain the third overall pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft and that is unacceptable for this franchise. The Texans have many issues, and are in need of some different players on defense, and elsewhere on the roster, so losing that many high selections is tough on the Texans at the moment.
Remember the Dolphins traded the Houston Texans’ 26th pick to the Green Bay Packers for more picks, eventually selecting 30th overall and choosing cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
Miami was one spot away from earning a playoff spot in the current NFL playoffs, they finished 10-6 overall, and now have a third round pick they can do a lot with, plus the 18th overall pick they earned. The Dolphins can make the selection of basically any player they want — as they drafted Tua Tagovailoa in the first round last year so no QB is needed — or they could trade down with the No. 3 overall pick and gain even more draft assets to add to their roster.
From building for the future, the Dolphins won the Laremy Tunsil trade, but in defense if the Houston Texans they knew what their decision cost them.
With Tunsil the Texans gained a franchise left tackle who they already knew was the “real deal” and would protect Deshaun Watson and keep him healthy, which he has. Watson played in all 16 games last season, and in ’19 he played in the first 15 games, and the Texans starters were held out of the ’19 regular season finale.
Miami also gained a left tackle in the draft last year in Austin Jackson, and though he’s not Tunsil, — Jackson allowed four sacks in 2020 — the Dolphins were still were able to fill the left tackle spot with potential as they rebuild their roster.
What Miami will do with the third and 35th overall picks in this year’s draft will be very interesting, but looking at the roster of the Houston Texans it is clear they could have really used those two early draft picks to find some playmakers, especially on defense.