Texans Sign Laremy Tunsil To Historic Extension

Laremy Tunsil is going to be the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history after agreeing to a monster extension with the Texans.

Houston and the left tackle agreed to a new three-year deal worth $66 million, or a $22 million average annual salary, according to multiple reports. Tunsil will get a $13 million signing bonus, more than $57 million guaranteed and $40 million over the first two years of the deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The deal was negotiated directly with Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien, according to the Houston Chronicle. Tunsil was entering the final year of his rookie deal with $10.35 million base salary.

Prior to Tunsil’s extension, Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson was the league’s highest-paid tackle at $18 million per year. Houston, however, blew that figure out of the water to lock up its own franchise tackle.

Tunsil, 25, came to the Texans prior to the 2019 season. Drafted 13th overall by Miami in 2016, he and WR Kenny Stills were traded from the Dolphins to Houston prior to last season in a blockbuster deal that required the Texans to surrender two first-round picks and a second-rounder.

That cost was already steep, but Houston took it a step further with this extension.

Tunsil enjoyed his first Pro Bowl campaign during his first season in Houston. The Texans, meanwhile, won the AFC South with their new tackle protecting Deshaun Watson. Tunsil started 14 games and played 915 offensive snaps, allowing just three sacks while committing 18 penalties on the season. He finished the year with a 75.8 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus.