Laremy Tunsil spoke openly of his desire to become the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL. He got his wish on Sunday.
Houston is signing Tunsil to a three-year, $75 million extension that includes $50 million in fully guaranteed money, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday, per a source. The deal is worth up to $60 million in total guarantees, per Rapoport.
The new extension makes the three-time Pro Bowler the highest-paid tackle in NFL history once again. Rapoport adds that Tunsil represented himself while resetting the market at his position.
This signing also comes on the same day the Texans traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick, Rapoport reported.
Tunsil's name was floated in trade rumors during the first week of the new league year, but as the dust settled in the tackle market, it became clear Houston's best course of action was to keep Tunsil by satisfying his financial desires.
Tunsil arrived in Houston via trade in August of 2019, and less than a year later, he agreed to a three-year extension that paid him an average of $22 million per year. In 2022, Tunsil told reporters he wanted to reset the tackle market with another new deal following a season in which he posted his best Pro Football Focus grade of his seven-year NFL career and reached the Pro Bowl for the third time since joining the league in 2016.
Tunsil sensed he had plenty of leverage with the struggling Texans, who entered 2023 with the likelihood they'd spend a top pick on a quarterback. Tunsil knew he was a valuable part of Houston's plans, and with the salary cap increasing, Tunsil wanted to cash in as the most important blocker for the next Texans signal-caller.
He's done exactly that with this deal. Now, the Texans will get to work on filling out the rest of their offense as they attempt to climb out of the NFL's cellar under new coach DeMeco Ryans.
