Right before the 2019 season, the Miami Dolphins executed a massive trade that sent offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil among others to the Houston Texans for two first-round picks and a second-round pick. The trade was an unprecedented development for such collateral to be exchanged for offensive linemen as opposed to wide receivers, pass rushers, elite cornerbacks, or quarterbacks. After four calendar years and five football seasons later, it can be argued that the Phins have underachieved since then. Let’s break down why.
So, after the Dolphins made the massive trade, they went on to have a 5-11 season in which they went 5-4 down their final nine games after starting 0-7. Texans were able to finish the season as AFC South champs but lost in the Divisional Round to the eventual Super Bowl Champions of that year, the Chiefs. Since the Dolphins owned Houston’s first-rounder via the trade, Miami had the fifth overall pick virtue of their record, and the 26th overall pick from Houston. After picking Tua Tagovailoa first and making another pick in the first round via an unrelated trade, Miami traded down from 26th to 30th with the Packers to select Noah Igbinoghene.
In the 2020 season, the Dolphins finished 10-6 barely missing the playoffs while Houston (due to other unrelated trades that completely flunked) finished 4-12 which awarded Miami the third overall pick in the 2021 draft. Miami would make two trades from 3 to 12 and back up to 6 to select star receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Phins also owned the Texans second round pick which resulted in safety Jevon Holland. Miami would again barely miss the postseason at 9-8 and Houston would have another four-win record at 4-13. In the 2022 offseason, the Texans traded controversial QB Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns, which included a very similar quantity of draft picks they once gave to Miami. The Texans would have a worse record while the Dolphins finally clinched a playoff berth but wouldn’t advance past the wild card. That record gave Houston the second overall pick enabling them to pick ROTY award-winning CJ Stroud and the Watson trade allowed them to acquire Will Anderson.
This past season, Houston went from being the second-worst team in the league to being a team winning their division and losing in the Divisional Round. Miami, despite using all their collateral from the Tunsil trade to acquire a lot of young rising players and star players including Tyreek Hill. The Texans went through arguably their worst three-year span in franchise history but weathered the storm to become a potential championship contender. Miami, on the other hand, while having four winning records consecutively, has failed to achieve a playoff victory since 2000.
Not only have the Texans seem to be in better shape to compete for titles, but they also have resigned Laremy Tunsil to a good contract extension. Plus, they have young stars on the roster and seemed to have their answer at quarterback. On the other hand, Miami went all in essentially in the past two offseasons and yet can’t get a single postseason win and is at a crossroads with an impending contract in its final year. The trade that once seemed as if Houston was completely irresponsible and too forthcoming, seemed to have finally struck gold, as opposed to Miami fighting to break a lower ceiling.
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