Houston Texans give Laremy Tunsil a three-year $66m deal
While most of the NFL world was focused on the draft, the Houston Texans made a splash on Friday afternoon when news broke that the club had reached a three-year extension with left tackle Laremy Tunsil. According to Ian Rapopot of the NFL Network, the contract is worth a total of $66m, with Tunsil guaranteed $57.85m and $40m to be paid at time of signing. The deal makes Tunsil the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league, surpassing the NFL’s second highest paid lineman Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles by $4m. Johnson had just signed a four-year deal in November with the Eagles worth $18m a season. Tunsil’s contract extension ensures he remains in Houston until the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.
The 25-year-old was selected in the first round of 2016 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, before being shipped off to the Houston Texans prior to last season. Tunsil did not come cheap though, as Houston gave up two first round draft picks and a second-round selection for the Florida native and wide receiver Kenny Stills. Despite the high price tag, the trade has worked out well for Houston with Tunsil starting 14 games for the franchise last season and being voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
Houston won their division for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in five years after finishing the campaign with a 10-6 record. Despite blowing a commanding lead against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Texans are looking to build on what they were able to accomplish in recent years.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the player negotiated directly with head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien and did not use the services of an agent. This seems to have helped speed up the process of a deal being struck. O’Brien has been quite the busy many himself this offseason completing several massive transactions.
Earlier this year, the head coach and general manager generated quite the buzz when he traded away All-Pro wide receiver Deandre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson and a second round pick.
Tunsil will be entering the fifth year of his NFL career and his second with the Texans. He played a major role in shoring up problems that the Texans were having in their offensive line and was a big reason they got past the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round.
Tunsil isn’t without his fair share of controversy though as a video went viral a few years ago of the Florida native smoking marijuana through a gas mask. He has not had any issues since though and has not provided the Texans with any concerns about giving him such a large contract.
A plethora of questions regarding the start of NFL training camps and preseason games remain unanswered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when action does resume Texans fans can rest assured that their superstar left tackle will be in Houston.
