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According to Ian Rapoport and Aaron Wilson, the Texans have finally agreed to an extension with left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
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
The deal is for three years, which will keep Tunsil in Houston protecting Deshaun Watson through the 2024 season, since Tunsil has a fifth and final year of his rookie contract to play out in 2020.
Aaron Wilson reports that Tunsil got $57 million in guarantees at an average of $22 million per season.
Texans have finalized a three-year contract extension worth $22 million per year with Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, according to league sources. The deal includes $57 million guaranteed, which includes a $13 million signing bonus
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 24, 2020
As expected, the contract makes Tunsil the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL. Tunsil was due for a payday as he was about to enter the final year of his contract and the Texans surrendered a king’s ransom to acquire him from the Dolphins last August.
Notably, the short-term extension will allow Tunsil to hit the market again before his age-30 season, which should result in another large payday.
Considering the fact that the Texans traded two first-round picks and a second rounder to land Tunsil and Kenny Stills (one of those picks was then sent to Green Bay in a deal that saw the Packers select QB Jordan Love in last night’s first round), it was vital to extend the fifth-year left tackle out of Ole Miss. The Texans simply could not have given up that much and let Tunsil walk out the door in free agency next year.
Thoughts on the contract extension for Houston’s Pro Bowl left tackle?