Stonewalling pass rushers to protect the quarterback's blind side and opening up holes for running backs are specialized and valuable skills.
The Texans recognize that fact through their significant investment in Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, one of the highest paid offensive linemen in the NFL.
One year after signing Tunsil to a three-year, $66 million contract extension that included $50 million guaranteed with a $13 million signing bonus, the Texans restructured that deal this offseason to create $10.106 million in salary cap space. Signed to a three-year, $66 million contract extension a year ago that included $50 million guaranteed with a $13 million signing bonus with an average of $22 million annually, Tunsil's original $16.15 million base salary was converted into a $15.16 million signing bonus. He now has a $990,000 fully guaranteed base salary for 2021 and a salary cap figure of $9.29 million, down from $19.4 million.
Including the fifth-year club option of $10.85 million Tunsil was paid last year, the deal still has a total value of $76.35 million.
Acquired in a trade from the Miami Dolphins for a pair of first-round draft picks two years ago, the 6-foot-5, 318-pound former first-round draft pick from Mississippi has a lot of power, strength, agility and quickness working in his favor. Tunsil was flagged for just six penalties last season and allowed two sacks for a 75.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade, according to the analytics-based website.
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Tunsil was one of the few bright spots on a 4-12 team and is a key figure in the Texans' rebuild as arguably their most talented overall offensive player. During his first two seasons with the Texans, Tunsil was named to the Pro Bowl. He became the first Texans offensive lineman to be named to the Pro Bowl last season since left tackle Duane Brown did so in 2014.
“He’s a very, very gifted player, there’s no question," new Texans offensive line coach James Campen said. "He’s been blessed with some unique skillsets and he can do a lot of different things very well. Just like all of them though, I do believe this, that everyone has different skillsets. We as coaches have to put them in position to exploit those, to make sure that we’re maximizing those things within the structure of an offense. He allows you to do some things like you just mentioned on the back side of the quarterback. He allows you to do some other things to be able to create matchups and those things for other players.”
Tunsil, who's been active in philanthropic efforts in Houston this offseason, maintains a simple approach to the game: working diligently on his technique and blocking the man in front of him.
“I just try to do my job," Tunsil said last season. "I just try to get the job done and just keep going, man, just try to build and get better each week.”
Tunsil made major strides in his conditioning, adding lean muscle and upgrading his stamina by lifting heavier weights and performing explosive movements while rehabilitating a torn labrum in his shoulder last year while training with former Texans and Denver Broncos strength coach and physical therapy specialist Billy Voltaire of Volt Performance.
The improvement and increased comfort level in Tunsil was obvious last season.
“Laremy’s a freak,” Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said last year. “He’s playing at an incredibly high level in both the pass game and the run game. He’s doing a great job executing the assignments that we’re giving him. He’s been a great pro."
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 years and has written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.
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