Risk versus reward is a common theme every year in the NFL Draft. At what point does a player's raw talent outweigh the off-field concerns? At what point can a team no longer resist the temptation of potentially elite ability? We saw that story play out yet again last night with Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Once billed as a potential top overall selection when the Tennessee Titans still held the No. 1 pick, an unfortunate social media hack exposed some of Tunsil's dirty laundry, compounding the worry teams already held about his maturity. Tunsil then tumbled down the draft board a bit, seeing fellow tackles Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin taken off the board before the Miami Dolphins stopped his free fall at No. 13.
"We're sitting there watching the best player in the draft fall and we started talking about this might actually be happening for us," an unnamed team source said. "We're picking 13 and the best player in the draft just fell to us."
Best case scenario, Tunsil grows up this summer before hitting the NFL and plays up to expectations while staying out of trouble (he was suspended seven games last year and admitted to receiving money from coaches at Ole Miss shortly after the draft). Worst case scenario, the decision-making lapses that have plagued him recently continue and Miami can't rely on him from week to week.
If the former situation plays out, the Dolphins may have just gotten the steal of the draft. Tunsil was largely considered to be the best blindside protector in this year's class, though the unnamed team source suggested that he'll begin his playing career at guard. Left tackle Branden Albert and right tackle Ja'Wuan James are expected to hold the starting gigs if both are healthy. But don't expect Tunsil to stay inside for long. Albert will turn 32 in November and has dealt with injuries in the past. It's only a matter of time until Tunsil takes his rightful place as the anchor of this offensive line.
Was this a risky move Miami? Yes, Tunsil's off-field behavior can't be discounted, especially as a much-hyped first-round pick. However, if everything breaks right, the reward could extend for the next 10-plus years.
