Houston Texans acquire Laremy Tunsil from Miami Dolphins
On a big day of moves, the Texans addressed their hole at left tackle by trading for the former 13th overall pick.
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On a day in which the Houston Texans traded former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, the franchise didn't stop there on Saturday. The Texans also added three key offensive parts -- led by left tackle Laremy Tunsil -- in separate trades with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, according to multiple reports. The moves immediately improved Houston's weakest area, the offensive line, and overhauled team's roster entering the season opener at the New Orleans Saints but cost the team significant draft capital.
Houston sent its first round draft picks in 2020 and 2021, a second-round pick in 2021, backup cornerback Johnson Bademosi and backup offensive tackle Julie'n Davenport in exchange for Tunsil, receiver Kenny Stills, a fourth round pick in 2020 and a sixth round pick in 2021. In a separate move the Texans also acquired veteran running back Carlos Hyde from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for backup offensive lineman Martinas Rankin.
But it's the 6-foot-5, 313-pound Tunsil who fills a huge void for the Texans. Over the last two seasons with journeymen and inexperienced players manning the left tackle position, Houston allowed 116 sacks, which was the most in the NFL and 12 more than the next worst team. (Last season alone the Texans gave up a league-high 62 sacks.) With Tunsil playing left tackle the last two seasons, the Dolphins allowed just 85 sacks.
Drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Tunsil is regarded as one of the better young left tackles in the league. The 25-year-old has missed just four games over his first three seasons and will start immediately for the Texans, protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson's blind side.
The 27-year-old Stills has 259 catches for 4,138 yards and 32 touchdowns in six seasons. With receivers Will Fuller and Keke Coutee constantly battling injuries, Stills, who has missed just two games in his career, gives Houston a dependable body at the position.
After a big senior season at Ohio State, Hyde has largely been a disappointment since being selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He joins Duke Johnson as the team's top two running backs after starter Lamar Miller suffered a torn ACL in the third preseason game.