The Houston Texans want to keep left tackle Laremy Tunsil around for a long time, but the price may be that they give him a contract extension that makes him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, along with other reports, the former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick from Ole Miss is seeking a contract extension that would earn him anywhere between $19 million and $20 million annually. Currently, the highest paid offensive lineman is Philadelphia Eagles RT Lane Johnson at $18 million. With Tennessee Titans OT Jack Conklin set to hit the open market, he could surpass it. None of those numbers would top Tunsil.
According to Spotrac, if Tunsil were to get $20 million a year, it would make him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
The thing with “highest paid” is that the distinction usually is lost whenever the next round of contract extensions are signed. Furthermore, the yearly increase of the salary cap allows teams to absorb big contracts and they don’t end up hurting them in the long run, presuming the club is adept at forecasting how other extensions will affect their cap space.
The Texans still have a whole 12 months to work out a contract extension with Tunsil. Currently, he is slated to make $12.5 million in guaranteed money as the Dolphins picked up his fifth-year contract, and Houston will honor it.
However, when the time comes for the Texans to lock up the Pro Bowler long-term, they may have to be willing to set the market and pay top dollar to keep Tunsil. Given how impactful he was at keeping franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson upright and away from leading the NFL in sacks for the second straight season, it may be a price general manager Bill O’Brien is willing to pay.
