The Miami Dolphins’ stockpile of 2020 NFL Draft selections came from a slew of moves throughout the course of the last 12 months — but none were bigger than the Dolphins’ blockbuster trade of left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Houston Texans. That deal, which was done just days before the start of the 2019 season, saw Miami flip Tunsil and veteran WR Kenny Stills to Houston for a first-round pick in 2020 and first & second-round picks in 2021.
We now know where the Texans’ first asset traded to Miami will fall; it is the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. But the Texans’ 2021 selections loom on the horizon as a mystery. One would expect the Texans to be a playoff contender, but this team is being recklessly ran by head coach Bill O’Brien — who is also acting as the team’s current general manager.
This offseason alone, the Texans have traded away star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and, now, have traded away one of their few draft selections for his replacement in WR Brandin Cooks.
The #Texans are sending a 2nd round pick to the #Rams in exchange for WR Brandin Cooks and a future fourth-round pick, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2020
Houston’s laundry list of questionable roster decisions have taken the team from viable Super Bowl contender and turned them into a mystery team. The trade of Hopkins reportedly left current Texans players fuming. And the Texans, who still need offensive line fortifications of their own as well as upgrades to an aging defense, own just two selections in the top-100 picks of the 2020 NFL Draft and only three in the top-170.
There will be little to no aid coming for the Texans in 2020’s draft, which means if things even go a bit sideways once the season kicks off, these Texans could act as a potential time bomb. And if that comes into reality, there will be no one who will benefit from that development more than the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins own each of the Texans’ picks in the first two rounds of 2021 — so while the team is focused on the here and now, there’s a clear opportunity ahead to cash in big time on the misfortunes and missteps of another team.
The warning signs are clear that the Texans are “on the clock” to win — or else.