The Houston Texans news before the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft is they have agreed to a contract extension with offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.
In Houston Texans news that we knew and hoped eventually would happen, general manager/head coach Bill O’Brien, the Texans and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil have agreed to a three-year contract extension.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com are reporting on Twitter that Tunsil’s contract extension is “worth $22 million per year,” while also $57 million of the new contract is guaranteed, with $13 million being a signing bonus.
Basically put, Laremy Tunsil is the new “Million Dollar Man” in Texas, as the Texans know they have blindside protection for Deshaun Watson for the foreseeable future. Tunsil knows he’ll still have another shot at another very large contract once this extension is complete, so both sides got what they wanted.
Laremy Tunsil joined the Texans last offseason when O’Brien made a blockbuster trade by trading for Tunsil, Kenny Stills, a 2020 third round pick, and a 2021 sixth round pick. In exchange the Miami Dolphins received a 2020 first round pick, 2021 first and second round picks, cornerback Johnson Bademosi and offensive tackle Julién Davenport.
This is a move that needed to be made and the way this contract is set it is smart for all involved, because the Texans didn’t break the bank long-term for the deal, plus still have room to give Watson the big money he’ll receive in his contract extension later this offseason.
The #Texans have agreed to terms on a massive extension for LT Laremy Tunsil, per me and @Wyche89. Their franchise left tackle is locked in, though the word is this is a short-term extension.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020
Last season with the Texans, Laremy Tunsil played in 915 offensive snaps where he had 18 penalties and just three sacks allowed. Tunsil also had a Pro Football Focus grade of 75.8 in 2019.
The best part of Laremy Tunsil’s contract extension is the fact the franchise doesn’t have to worry about the protection from the left side of the field for Watson as Tunsil’s offensive line teammate, guard Max Scharping was drafted in the second round last season. Since Tunsil joined the Texans offensive line last year they’ve shown improvement from the previous season, and this year that unit could be even better.
More specifics on the #Texans extension with LT Laremy Tunsil, who blew up the tackle market: 3 years, $66M with $57.85M guaranteed (more than I initially said) with $40M over the first two years and a $13M signing bonus, per me and @wyche89.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020
O’Brien needs some credit here too because even though Laremy Tunsil will earn $22 million per season, the Texans did what was needed to keep the very talented player on the roster and not let him get away at the end of the upcoming season.
If the Texans add to the right side of the offensive line in the 2020 NFL Draft this weekend, maybe it is time to get excited about the offense as a whole, or at least the offensive line, which is a statement a couple seasons ago that would have not been typed.