Laremy Tunsil has been a revelation this season. The Washington Commanders had to pay a premium to acquire the prolific left tackle via trade from the Houston Texans. Still, general manager Adam Peters hit the jackpot in no uncertain terms.
Now, Tunsil wants to be paid. And the Commanders know that isn't going to be cheap.
There is no doubt that Tunsil deserves the lucrative financial commitment he will receive. He's been a shining light amid the almost constant doom and gloom, providing elite pass protection and crushing run-blocking. The fact that the former Ole Miss star has also willingly become a strong mentor presence for rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. only magnifies his exceptional influence on and off the field.
Commanders might have to break records to extend Laremy Tunsil this offseason
Tunsil made no secret of his desire to secure another commitment from the Commanders ahead of time. He's got one more year remaining on his deal, but Peters should expect a holdout until this matter is resolved. And the sooner something gets rubber-stamped, the better Washington's chances will be.
According to Spotrac, Tunsil is projected to get around $30.64 million per season on a four-year, $122.58 million deal. This would make him the highest-paid left tackle in the league, and if Peters wants to keep his franchise cornerstone happy, he'll pay up sooner rather than later.
It's a lot of money, especially given Tunsil is 31. However, offensive tackles tend to retain their consistency well into their thirties, and the 2016 first-round pick hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. Outstanding blindside protectors are hard to find, so Peters doesn't need to overcomplicate this despite the eye-watering figures attached.
Peters always knew this was a possibility when he traded for the lineman. It's also the best-case scenario for Washington.
Tunsil quickly became the best left tackle this team has had since Trent Williams. Retaining the very best is usually expensive, but the Commanders have enough financial flexibility to absorb this contract without jeopardizing the team's need to strengthen other problem areas.
The five-time Pro Bowler is everything the Commanders thought he would be and more. This will likely be Tunsil's last opportunity to earn a megabucks deal throughout his career, so he'll be eager to make the most of it. If that means breaking the barrier for left tackles around the NFL, so be it, but Washington has to make this among its top priorities once the 2025 campaign concludes.
After how Tunsil has performed this season, he'll be expecting precisely that.