Expensive Laremy Tunsil Extension Should Get Texans Back on Deshaun Watson's Good Side
By Adam Weinrib
There's no better way to ensure your QB will be happy than by rewarding and incentivizing his top protector.
Amid a tumultuous offseason packed with Drake lyrics and New England Patriots musings, Deshaun Watson finally got good news on Friday -- the Texans agreed to a massive new guaranteed contract with Laremy Tunsil, keeping their high-profile acquisition in place.
#Texans deal with Laremy Tunsil is for a whopping $22M per year, per @AaronWilson_NFL. Ready for this: $57M of it is guaranteed. Huge money.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) April 24, 2020
Yes, the Texans can afford to pay both Watson and Tunsil. And yes, they'd better.
Whether you agree with the strategy in place or not, the bottom line here is that Bill O'Brien did not trust DeAndre Hopkins enough to make him part of the team's long-term payment plan. He felt differently about Tunsil, popped on his GM hat, and inked the durable 25-year-old Pro Bowler to a massive deal, with his team's best interest in mind.
That interest, as it should always be, is keeping its signal-caller happy, locked, and loaded. Though this is reportedly a short-term deal, any extra time that BOB buys with Tunsil should further prevent Watson's wandering eyes.
Highest paid OL in the NFL based on new money per-year average:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 24, 2020
1. Laremy Tunsil: $22M
2. Lane Johnson: $18M
T-3. Anthony Castonzo: $16.5M
T-3. Trent Brown: $16.5M
5. Taylor Lewan: $16M
6. Nate Solder: $15.5M
One of the game's best is now officially paid like it, and Jack Conklin's ascendance shows exactly what can happen if a team undervalues their best linemen as their reputations begin to bloom. Nothing but a good call for Houston to strike here.