I would also assume (again: hope?) that the Texans would *only* trade Clowney to a team you almost certainly will need to compete with/beat in your conference if that team was willing to make a sock-knocking-off level offer.
I would trade Clowney and a 2nd for Tunsil just because the bridge has already been burned with him. I think the way the Texans have handled this has been terrible, but that's about the best we can hope for right now.
What else could they have done? They don’t want to pay him the money. They are trying to trade him to a team that wants to pay him.
It's not Clowney's fault we overvalue athletes and entertainers; stop holding that against him. None of us would willingly jeopardize our long-term earning potential for someone else's short-term gain, especially for a "game" that is increasingly dangerous.
If the Texans walk out of this with Tunsil *and* their first round pick, that's the equivalent of Luhnow landing Greinke and keeping Kyle Tucker (which he was universally lauded for). And it would absolutely invalidate any notion that the Texans handled this "terribly." It would instead indicate they handled it *perfectly*.
Given each players plays to their potential....... I think he might be. Remember, the Dolphins would be trading four years of Tunsil for potentially only 2 years of Clowney (as I assume they could franchise him next year?) - and that's assuming he shows up next year if they can indeed franchise him. Frankly, the Dolphins would be bonkers-stupid to make this trade so I'm inclined to sweeten the pot.
Tunsil is only 1 year behind Clowney in the league, talent for talent Clowney is more gifted at his position. Yes LT is a more important position than pass rusher but not by much.
The below site has Tunsil rated as the 11th best OT and Trent Brown rated as the 16th best. Could have paid the crazy money for Trent Brown and traded Clowney for a late 1st round pick before the 2019 draft. https://athlonsports.com/nfl/nfl-offensive-linemen-rankings
Talent is *a* part of the equation (as is position) - but Tunsil will make less these next two years combined ($12MM) than Clowney will this year alone - and you can keep Tunsil for two more additional years on the franchise tag. With Clowney, you get one year, 2 at the most if the Dolphins are allowed to franchise him next year. That's why this isn't a 1:1.
Which teams would've given a first round pick?... Remember, it's been reported the Texans shopped Clowney prior to the draft so they, I assume, knew his market. Fans do this a lot - they take a result and work backwards to their own conclusion - should've traded down; Howard would've been there in the 2nd round, etc. Maybe the Texans thought Clowney was worth more... but if someone offered a 1 and next year's 2 for Clowney..... I think the Texans probably jump on it - UNLESS it's a good team in their conference, in which case, they should've asked for much more. I wouldn't give Clowney to the Chiefs for anything short of an historic haul back.
And be running into the same issue with a disgruntled player on the franchise tag. There’s risk there too. They’re both high contract players with big deals looming. Pretty 1:1 to me
Anybody willing to include McKinney with Clowney if it gets us Tunsil and Miami 2nd? I would be tempted but pass.
They should have known what kind of money Clowney was going to ask for and If they didn't like him they should have traded him before the draft. I know some team would have given a late 1st for him with franchise pick control, and the ability to negotiate a new contract. If they liked Tunsil so much they should have traded for him back then when Clowney had higher value.
