The Houston Texans need to extend the contract of Laremy Tunsil as soon as possible.
If any team knows how tough it is to find a franchise left tackle it is the Houston Texans, and when they traded for Laremy Tunsil last offseason they paid the price with two first-round picks plus other compensation.
The need to keep Tunsil on the roster past this upcoming season is of very great importance. Sure, there were some penalty issues, but there is no doubt the Texans are better with Tunsil on the roster than without him.
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In the contract Tunsil signed with the Miami Dolphins before he was traded to the Texans, the final year of the deal has the left tackle making $10.350 million for this upcoming season, as last year the Texans had Tunsil at a bargain when he made $2.148 million in his first season with the team.
Now it is very simple with Tunsil and the Texans … if they want to keep him, they must pay up, and that price tag will be as large as Tunsil’s 6-5, 313-pound frame.
Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle wrote about Tunsil’s agent meeting with the team at the NFL Combine:
"“Tunsil could become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL and top Philadelphia offensive tackle Lane Johnson’s $72 million deal that includes $55.845 million guaranteed and averages $18 million per year.”"
The price of having Tunsil on the roster to protect franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson should have no limit because the Texans offense doesn’t run at a top-tier level without Watson, and his protection is the most important aspect of the entire Texans offense.
This past season, Tunsil played in 14 games, but Week 17 doesn’t really count as the Texans sat many starters in that game against the Tennessee Titans. Tunsil was also selected to the Pro Bowl for his play in ’19. Pro Football Focus graded him at 75.8, as he was called for 18 penalties and allowed just three sacks in 915 snaps played this past season.
Granted, signing Tunsil is going to force the Texans to pay a lot of mone, and take up cap space, but as mentioned before, what Tunsil provides the Texans with the protection of Watson honestly has no price tag.
Offensive linemen who play at a very high level are tough to find on a roster, especially a strong left tackle like Tunsil. Watson played better his first season with Tunsil protecting him, and the offensive line was stronger in ’19 compared to ’18.
It is simple — if the Texans want to keep climbing the ladder in the AFC, and get past the Divisional Round of the playoffs, they are going to need Tunsil to help take that step.