According to Aaron Wilson, the Texans have finalized a three-year contract extension worth $22 million per year with left tackle Laremy Tunsil on Friday.
Wilson says that contract includes $57 million guaranteed and a $13 million signing bonus.
Tunsil reportedly negotiated this contract on his own directly with HC/GM Bill O’Brien. Wilson mentions that Tunsil did get advice from some advisors.
Reports had sais that Tunsil was looking to become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL and it looks like he managed to accomplish this based on annual salary.
Lane Johnson was the previous top offensive tackle at $18 million per year.
Considering that the Texans gave up to acquire Tunsil, it’s not surprising he was able to reset the top end of the market. The Texans simply could not walk away from him without getting an extension done.
It’s interesting that Tunsil opted for a short-term extension. Although, this puts him in line to be an unrestricted free agent again before he’s 30 years old.
Tunsil, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2016. He was entering the final year of his four-year, $12,457,650 rookie contract and set to make a base salary of $2,148,771 for the 2019 season when the Dolphins picked up his fifth-year option last year.
The Dolphins traded Tunsil to the Texans last year. He stands to make a base salary of $10,350,000 for the 2020 season and was in line to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
In 2019, Tunsil appeared in 14 games for the Texans and made 14 starts for them at left tackle. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 21 offensive tackle out of 81 qualifying players.
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