The Houston Texans enter the 2025 season as favorites to win the AFC South once again. Sure, the Jacksonville Jaguars made some top talent like Travis Hunter, and the Tennessee Titans may have their new franchise quarterback in Cam Ward, but the Texans are in solid shape to win the division with ease for the third consecutive year in the C.J. Stroud era.
Speaking of Stroud, he's looking to cement his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the game. However, the Texans didn't exactly do him many favors, especially with one offseason move that can be classified as "weird."
Of course, that's the team trading away left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Texans trading away Laremy Tunsil remains the team's most bizarre move of the offseason
If there was one thing that derailed the Texans last year, it was their offensive line. Stroud was hit and taken down a lot last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Stroud was pressured 235 times on 622 dropbacks. So, Stroud was facing pressure nearly a third of the time when he dropped back to attempt a pass. That was far from ideal, along with the 52 sacks.
Yes, Tunsil was part of the offensive line, but he was easily the best player on it. In 1,026 offensive snaps, Tunsil allowed just 19 total pressures, three quarterback hits, and two sacks. Those are good numbers for a tackle protecting Stroud's blindside.
But this offseason, the Texans made the puzzling move to trade Tunsil to the Washington Commanders in exchange for 2025 second- and seventh-round picks and 2026 second- and fourth-round selections. It was bizarre for the Texans to bail on Tunsil, especially since he was the only sure thing on the offensive line. Sure, the trade did help free up cap space, but was it really worth it?
The Texans' plan to replace Tunsil consists of veteran Cam Robinson, who is a solid offensive tackle, but nowhere near the top 10 at his position. Then, the Texans used their second-round pick on Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery, who won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award for the 2024 season after allowing just 12 pressures, 10 quarterback hurries, and one sack on 420 pass snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Ersery is listed as the starting left tackle, and while he is a promising rookie, the transition to the NFL as a tackle is tough. Some players have been able to do that and make an immediate impact. It's a lot to ask a rookie, especially on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
However the season goes, the Tunsil trade will always stand out as the team's weirdest move.