Has Laremy Tunsil’s business continued for more than 5 years?

Nearly six years ago, the Houston Texans made a trade with the Miami Dolphins that would change the course of the franchise for years to come. The Texans acquired offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills in exchange for first-round picks in 2020 and 2021, as well as a second-round pick in 2021, Johnson Bademosi and Julien Davenport.

Davenport is currently playing in the UFL, while Bademosi is no longer in football at all. Those picks, through a series of trades, became Jordan Love (2020), Trey Lance (2021), and Jevon Holland (Rd2, 2021). Obviously, the Dolphins made some trades, as only Holland was drafted by Miami. Still, the Texans could have gotten some big names had they not traded for Tunsil.

In 2020, the Texans could have drafted Patrick Queen or DeAndre Swift. Two players who clearly could have helped the Texans in recent years. In 2021, the Texans could have landed Penei Sewell, easily as good an offensive tackle, if not better, than anyone the Texans have ever had.

That’s not to say Tunsil has been bad for the Texans. He’s been anything but bad. He’s arguably surpassed Duane Brown as the team’s best offensive tackle. Tunsil has made four Pro Bowls in five seasons and has established himself, in our opinion at least, as one of the top 10 tackles in the NFL right now.

Tunsil’s choice for a player was a good deal. But it wasn’t just a choice for one player. There were three choices. Three picks, which turned into three very good players. Both Queen and Sewell are Pro Bowlers. While Queen had his ups and downs early in his career, he was a steal for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, signing a three-year, $41 million contract. Sewell, as previously mentioned, is one of, if not the best tackles in the NFL.

As for Holland, he’s not a Pro Bowler yet, but he’s been one of the best safeties in the NFL over the last three years and it’s only a matter of time before he gets recognition that he deserves. So looking at the exchange, yeah, Tunsil was great.

But has he been as good as three Pro Bowl caliber players? No, because almost no one is.