The Houston Hook: The crazy saga of the Benardrick McKinney trade

The Houston Hook looks at all things Houston Texans and the AFC South.

This past March the Houston Texans made a trade with the Miami Dolphins to send them linebacker Benardrick McKinney and a seventh round pick in exchange for defensive end Shaq Lawson and a sixth round pick.

Here is the result for this trade: neither McKinney or Lawson will take a regular season snap for either team they were traded in this deal with both player no longer on their respective roster.

Looking at Lawson, the Texans traded Lawson to the New York Jets on Sunday for a sixth round draft pick following the completion of the preseason. As for the sixth round pick the Texans received in the original trade the Texans traded that pick this past April.

As for Miami, they released McKinney on Monday before the start of the regular season, and for the pick they received in the McKinney-Lawson deal that player ended up being offensive lineman Larnel Coleman.

Releasing and trading players isn’t the strange part of this deal, the part that seems “crazy” is the fact neither McKinney or Lawson will be playing for the teams in Week 1. Both players aren’t that bad of players and could be in many starting lineups in the NFL, so they will have more NFL success.

Also remember McKinney was injured in ’20 after four games, and this preseason according to Brian Miller of Phin Fanatic the release by Miami “surprised a lot of people.”

It will be interesting to see where McKinney lands after his release, but it doesn’t seem like those who follow the Dolphins are in favor of this roster move made.

The Texans on their side of this deal ultimately ended up with a sixth round pick from the Jets and Lawson didn’t seem to fit in with Houston’s defense this preseason as he totaled five tackles in three games, including zero against the Buccaneers this past Saturday. Another plus was the Texans don’t have to pay the contract of McKinney either.

Deals happen all the time between teams, but seeing two players who have many starts in-between them be traded, and then both either traded or released before they even take a regular season snap for those teams, is unique to say the least.

Now let’s take a look at the AFC South.

Houston Texans: What’s going on in the AFC South?

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: For as stressful as the Texans’ quarterback situation has been this offseason, the Colts have their own drama at QB as well. Mike Luciano of Horseshoe Heroes discussed Indianapolis and what’s going on at QB with Carson Wentz going on the COVID-19 list.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Carlos Sanchez of Black and Teal writes about four players who could be on the practice squad roster of the Jaguars following the competition of the 53-man roster decisions.

TENNESSEE TITANS: Geoffrey Knox of Titan Sized writes about three young Titans players who should make their roster.