Could the Kansas City Chiefs go back to the trade market to find their left tackle of the future? One ESPN insider is watching a particular player closely if that’s the case.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently helped compile some last-minute free agency and trade buzz with the NFL’s legal tampering period kicking off at noon tomorrow. He mentioned that Houston Texans LT Laremy Tunsil could be a trade target for Kansas City if they’re unable to get a long-term deal done with Orlando Brown Jr. ahead of Monday.
Check it out:
Originally Posted by :
“One potential trade target I’m watching is Houston left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Texans have resisted trading him in recent years, but he has just one year and a nonguaranteed $18.5 million left on his contract and could be a target of the Chiefs if they aren’t able to bring back Orlando Brown Jr.”
What would need to happen for a trade to materialize?
First, Houston would need to decide that they did not want to pay Tunsil a long-term contract extension. That would be a bold move considering they’re expected to draft a rookie quarterback and nothing is better for a rookie quarterback than an established left tackle.
Second, the two sides would have to agree on trade compensation. Would the Chiefs really be willing to potentially give up a first-round draft pick in 2023 (and potentially more) for Tunsil when they’re hosting the draft in Kansas City?
Next up, the Chiefs and Tunsil’s representation would need to first agree to a contract extension that would lower his 2023 salary cap hit. Right now, his cap hit would put the team over the cap.
Finally, Kansas City must view Tunsil as their “long-term solution” at left tackle. Will they envision him as such when he’ll be 29 years old in Week 1 of 2023? There is certainly nothing wrong with his ability — in three of the past four seasons, he’s been among PFF’s highest-graded pass-blocking offensive tackles. They should have no problem paying for that production, but would it be for more than one contract? It’s hard to say. When you draft a rookie in the first round, you get five years of control (fifth-year option), plus a likely sixth year of control through the franchise tag. Then you have the potential of re-signing that player to a long-term deal afterward.
There are certainly benefits to trading for Tunsil, but given what we’re hearing about what the Chiefs want out of the left tackle position this offseason, a trade might not be the route they take. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Razaele:
Yeah. The usual suggestion that they might be loading up to move up in the first obviously doesn’t apply when you’ve got the #2. And unless they are going after Lamar the QB market is settled.
It wouldn’t make sense to me to trade away a bookend LT if you’re drafting QB at the top of the first, but what do I know.
For a team as raw as they are, it wouldn't be beyond reason to move Tunsil for a 2nd this year and 1st next from KC as it might give them some liberty to move around the draft.
Take your QBotF at #2 then try to trade up from #12 to #10 with your 4th-round pick to grab your LTotF. Take an ER at #33 then use KC's pick and one of your 3rds to go up for a WR in the 2nd but modest enough to get a 4th-round kickback. Try to snag a DL in the 3rd. I think that goes a long way toward building a respectable base.
Next year you have three picks in the 1st, you could probably kick one of those down the road another year by moving it if you want to keep the 2 1sts train going much like Philly did last year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kccrow:
For a team as raw as they are, it wouldn't be beyond reason to move Tunsil for a 2nd this year and 1st next from KC as it might give them some liberty to move around the draft.
Take your QBotF at #2 then try to trade up from #12 to #10 with your 4th-round pick to grab your LTotF. Take an ER at #33 then use KC's pick and one of your 3rds to go up for a WR in the 2nd but modest enough to get a 4th-round kickback. Try to snag a DL in the 3rd. I think that goes a long way toward building a respectable base.
Next year you have three picks in the 1st, you could probably kick one of those down the road another year by moving it if you want to keep the 2 1sts train going much like Philly did last year.
We'd have to use our 3rd and get a low 5th high 6th back. That's the trade value on the chart anyways. Not good. [Reply]
doubt this is more than a pipe dream, but if HOU would take our 31st pick for Tunsil, Veach should do that deal instantaneously and run away as fast as possible before HOU tries to take it back, lol. Maybe the best pass-pro LT in the NFL for the 31st pick? Man, I wish Billy was still their GM. [Reply]
I cannot talk myself into any convoluted reasoning that might drive the Texans to be willing to trade Tunsil. Tons of cap room. New hopefully franchise QB starting this fall. They'd be nuts. [Reply]
Also I would really hope Clark Hunt isn’t dumb enough to pass on securing Patrick Mahomes’ left tackle of the future just because he wants to have a first round pick in the KC draft.
Fortunately I don’t believe he’s that dumb and I believe he would find the value of protecting his number one asset higher than getting some cheers from the home crowd on draft night. [Reply]
Originally Posted by wazu:
I cannot talk myself into any convoluted reasoning that might drive the Texans to be willing to trade Tunsil. Tons of cap room. New hopefully franchise QB starting this fall. They'd be nuts.
If Tunsil doesn’t wanna sign an extension. [Reply]
Originally Posted by wazu:
I cannot talk myself into any convoluted reasoning that might drive the Texans to be willing to trade Tunsil. Tons of cap room. New hopefully franchise QB starting this fall. They'd be nuts.
Well, it is HOU we're talking about. It's not like it'd be a huge stretch as far as boneheaded decisions they've made over the last 5-6 years. Technically, it wouldn't even be the worst decision they've ever made. [Reply]
Originally Posted by comochiefsfan:
Also I would really hope Clark Hunt isn’t dumb enough to pass on securing Patrick Mahomes’ left tackle of the future just because he wants to have a first round pick in the KC draft.
Fortunately I don’t believe he’s that dumb and I believe he would find the value of protecting his number one asset higher than getting some cheers from the home crowd on draft night.
They could bring Tunsil & Mahomes on stage to explain the trade in front of the KC draft audience. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Well, it is HOU we're talking about. It's not like it'd be a huge stretch as far as boneheaded decisions they've made over the last 5-6 years. Technically, it wouldn't even be the worst decision they've ever made.
Yeah, but Easterby is gone now, and General Manager Bill O'Brien is long gone. They have seemed a lot less meth-heady lately in the way they operate. [Reply]
Originally Posted by wazu:
Yeah, but Easterby is gone now, and General Manager Bill O'Brien is long gone. They have seemed a lot less meth-heady lately in the way they operate.
Yeah, but what if Billy left a bag of meth in his desk? I mean, we can hope, right? [Reply]