Aug. 31 represented the day in which all NFL rosters cut-down from 90 to 53 men. But, the releases weren’t the star of the show.
The Houston Texans were.
Rather than laying low, the Texans took a page out of Daryl Morey’s book. Go crazy, go bold, and do everything to win now. In honor of the mercurial Rockets general manager, Bill O’Brien and the four-headed general manager made four trades that will alter the fate of the franchise.
Let’s go through each of the fourth trades, in the order in which they were made, and grade them from the perspective of the Texans.
The Jadeveon Clowney trade
Details: LB/DE Jadeveon Clowney to Seattle Seahawks for 2020 third-round, LB/DE Barkevious Mingo, LB Jacob Collins
No matter how you look at it, the Texans come off as losers in this trade. While their leverage was in the hands of Clowney, it’s hard not to feel that Houston could’ve gotten more in terms of draft compensation.
A third-round pick for a three-time Pro-Bowl game wrecker that can play anywhere on the defensive line is far from fair. Yes, he’s on a rental contract; but he wanted to go there, so a long-term deal in 2019 is probably coming. If Houston got a second-round pick, this would look a lot better.
But, they didn’t.
As for the player compensation, it was a frustrating haul at first; considering the Texans’ lack of depth at the offensive line. But, that changed a few hours later with a particular trade.
Houston needed depth at pass-rusher if Clowney were to be gone; they got that. Mingo is a playable outside linebacker, that, albeit, struggled in training camp. Collins is a second-year pass-rusher — and an undersized heat-seeking missile that got better as his rookie year progressed.
The Seahawks got a 26-year-old playmaker at a critical position. The Texans got a third-round pick and depth to a pass-rushing unit that needed it; but, they could’ve done better.
Final grade: F
Houston, we have a running back
Details: G Martinas Rankins to Kansas City Chiefs for RB Carlos Hyde
At first, news broke that the Texans released Rankin. Shortly after, it was announced that the Chiefs would acquire him in exchange for Hyde; who also was a probable cut.
The trade made sense for both sides. It was also an admission of failure on the Texans.
A third-round pick a year ago, Rankin was rushed into both tackle positions and quickly failed. He was never the same (as a rookie) but shifted to guard and showed promise. Then, he regressed in training camp and found himself as a third-stringer. The depth in the interior line made him suddenly expendable.
The Chiefs added Hyde to compete in a committee; then they saw it swallow him and spit him out. He’s bounced around a good bit in the past two years, and he’s not a Pro-Bowl caliber player, but he’s more than capable of handling 8-12 touches a game — particularly as a power-rusher.
Neither the Texans nor Chiefs sacrifice anything in this trade. Houston got their veteran replacement (on a team-friendly one-year deal) to Lamar Miller and contrasting compliment to Duke Johnson. Kansas City got a developmental lineman.
Grade: A
The Texans steal some depth from Foxborough
Details: 2020 sixth-round to New England Patriots for CB Keion Crossen
The Texans have been searching for their backup nickel corner behind Aaron Colvin. After the preseason, they realized Briean Boddy-Colhoun wasn’t working out, released him, and then plucked Crossen from the Patriots for a low price.
More of a standout special teamer, Crossen played 11 games as a rookie in 2018 behind a stacked cornerback group. However, he, along with Jonathan Jones, played a major role in limiting Tyreek Hill in the AFC Championship.
I’ve thought for a while Keion Crossen could be the next Matthew Slater on special teams, as The Athletic’s Patriots writer Jeff Howes says. “Crossen then developed more rapidly this summer at cornerback than ever expected. He should have a good, long career.”
The Texans brought in a 23-year-old that plays special teams well and is coming off of a good training camp in New England. For a sixth-round pick in two years. That’s a win.
Grade: A
The “what just happened?”
Details: 2020 first-round, 2021 first-round, 2021 second-round, LT Julie’n Davenport, CB Johnson Bademosi to Miami Dolphins for 2020 fourth-round, 2021 sixth-round, LT Laremy Tunsil, WR Kenny Stills
It’s hard to think the Texans would make a bigger trade than trading Jadeveon Clowney on the same day. But that’s exactly what they did.
Let’s start with what Houston is receiving. The addition of Tunsil is game-changing. The 25-year-old left tackle is regarded as one of the NFL’s most valuable players in that what he’s shown to be a franchise blindside protector in three years of play. That was expected out of him; as coming into the 2016 draft, he was regarded as one of the best tackle prospects ever.
I can’t stress this enough, a young franchise left tackle may be the toughest commodity to find in the NFL. The Texans, like many, needed one, and they bit the bullet to have one.
Stills is a weapon for Houston’s passing attack. Though not a No. 1-type guy, Stills’ game is complete in most aspects; he’s versatile in that he can inside and outside and is a pure-route runner with sure hands. He’s known to be one of the league’s better No. 2 options and should fill in nicely alongside DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.
Tunsil is under contract for two more seasons, one on a rookie deal year and the other on the fifth-year option. Houston will do anything possible to extend him. Likewise, Stills is locked up for two seasons.
It wasn’t cheap to get the two. The Texans bet on the now while sacrificing the future; to the tune of two first-round picks and a second. Davenport and Bademosi were throw-ins. It’s an excellent way for the Dolphins to start a rebuild and a ballsy way to contend now for Houston; but, it was necessary.
Deshaun Watson is clearly the happiest person from this trade. Not only does his offensive line get revamped, but his wide receiver corps does too. Houston gambled by giving away future assets to win around Watson in 2019.
It was the only way to do so.
Grade: B+
