We know the Dolphins are rebuilding. They’ve loaded up on draft picks and salary cap money for next offseason, and they’re still contemplating starting Ryan Fitzpatrick over Josh Rosen, apparently, as clear a sign of tanking as any we’ve seen.

So naturally, they would be looking to offload some veterans for additional draft capital. Kiko Alonso? Sure. Reshad Jones? They’ve signaled that for a while. Kenny Stills? Well, that relationship seems to have soured for all the wrong reasons.

But Laremy Tunsil?

The only guy on this offensive line with a chance of keeping a passer alive?

Entering his prime?

All because he will be expensive — as elite left tackles should be?

Didn’t we just hear this about Xavien Howard, prior to the Dolphins’ top defensive player signing an extension? And isn’t Tunsil the Dolphins’ top offensive player?

But here we are, sort of….

Sources from Laremy Tunsil's team have confirmed with our own @TonyPauline that he has been dangled around the league as trade bait.

This is in line with what we reported last night – the Miami #Dolphins are shopping a number of veterans on their roster, which includes Tunsil.

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 24, 2019

Pro Football Network has some quality people, and they’ve been right on some things before. So this isn’t meant to say they’re making up this report.

I don’t believe they are. And trying to break news can suck. Trust us. You get played all the time. And sometimes you can’t report everything you want to. But it seems like a leverage play by someone, which is what happens in this business.

Trading Tunsil makes little to no sense, unless he’s engaging in an extended holdout, which he’s not. And our people shot it down pretty quickly.

We are told that the Dolphins are not actively "shopping everybody" & have only gauged league interest on a few. Also told that 100% of the reports circulating on Twitter are 100% made up. They have every intention on signing Laremy Tunsil to a longterm contract. @3YardsPerCarry

— Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) August 24, 2019

Then the great Barry Jackson — we’re contractually obligated to say that — weighed in.

NEW: We have clarity for you here on the Tunsil trade report you might have seen. And Dolphins now open for business with select veterans on trade front. https://t.co/poctUzBZdB

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 24, 2019

Jackson says that other teams have inquired about Tunsil, but that the Dolphins aren’t shopping him in any way. This is an important distinction that fans often forget. Just because another team asks about a player doesn’t mean the player will be moved, or that there’s even a chance he is moved. It means the player is good.

I’d expect Laremy Tunsil to be here a long time, to make sure that Dolphins quarterbacks live a long life.

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