In an offseason of head-scratching moves, the Houston Texans actually made a great one by extending offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil on Friday afternoon.
Extending Laremy Tunsil was a great move made by the Houston Texans.
Yes, even the Texans can make a smart front office decision from time to time. In an offseason that has prominently featured one head-scratching maneuver after another, Houston did the smart thing by giving Deshaun Watson‘s blind side protector a multi-year extension.
According to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle, the “Texans have finalized a three-year contract extension worth $22 million per year with Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil…The deal includes $57 million guaranteed, which includes a $13 million signing bonus.”
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport expanded on Wilson’s report with Tunsil getting a three-year extension totaling $66 million with $50 million of it guaranteed and a staggering $40 million due at signing. ESPN’s Field Yates points out how Tunsil is now the highest paid tackle in football, besting Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson by $4 million annually.
Extending Tunsil is a tremendous move for the Texans for so many reasons. First off, Texans head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien gave up the farm in a trade last August with the Miami Dolphins to get him. Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills and a fourth-round pick came Houston’s way in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick and two other players.
Secondly, Tunsil was a bona fide five-star recruit coming out of high school. He played his college ball at Ole Miss before being a first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2016. Tunsil will begin his age-26 season in August and is coming off his first Pro Bowl season in the league. It’s pretty clear he is tapping into his prime as a professional and that only means good things for the Texans.
Finally, O’Brien and the entire Texans organization doesn’t have to worry about Watson getting clocked from behind any more. Tunsil has his back and will be well compensated to make sure his star quarterback has a clean pocket to work with for the next three seasons.
While not having a first-round pick for two years is a tough pill to swallow if you’re a Texans fan, you have to feel pretty good knowing you have a potential perennial Pro Bowler in Tunsil under contract for the next three seasons. As long as he stays healthy, Houston will have a shot at contending for division titles, maybe finally play for the right to go to the Super Bowl in the AFC.