The Washington Commanders didn't want to drag things out with left tackle Laremy Tunsil's contract extension. General manager Adam Peters got burned by his stance on wide receiver Terry McLaurin last summer, and he wasn't going to make the same mistake again.
Tunsil now has the highest annual average salary of any offensive tackle in NFL history, and it's well deserved. His on-field production was elite as all around him seemingly crumbled. The trade to acquire the Ole Miss product was a home run. Now, he'll be around in Washington until 2029.
That's a win-win for everybody. And for offensive lineman Nick Allegretti, there is a hidden benefit to Tunsil being around long-term that almost everyone missed.
Commanders' benefits of Laremy Tunsil's extension go way beyond the field
Allegretti, who also got extended early this offseason, highlighted Tunsil's exceptional consistency during an interview on 106.7 The Fan. However, he was also quick to point out how beneficial this will be for Josh Conerly Jr. as he looks to reach similar heights throughout his NFL career.
"LT [Laremy Tunsil] did some special stuff. He is the highest-paid offensive lineman for a reason. A talented football player. I don't think enough can be said about how beneficial that is for Josh [Conerly Jr.]. Being a 21-year-old rookie, first-round pick, that type of pressure can get to anybody. Having a guy like Laremy to take him under his wing and talk through things, I think that's awesome for our group."
Tunsil saw something in Conerly immediately. The No. 29 pick in 2025 went through a baptism of fire against the league's best to start the campaign, but he overcame adversity to finish on the front foot. If the Oregon product can progress with additional experience, the Commanders have a legitimate bookend tackle tandem for quarterback Jayden Daniels to depend upon.
This was a criticism of Tunsil in the immediate aftermath of his trade to the Commanders. Whispers from the Houston Texans camp claimed he wasn't a big enough leader to inspire the locker room. He put those notions to rest in no uncertain terms, and looking at how the AFC South club's protection collapsed without him, they may be regretting their decision right now.
Houston's loss is undoubtedly Washington's gain. Tunsil is a game-changing force at a premium position. Extending him was always the best-case scenario. Unlike McLaurin, Peters had no trouble coughing up the money it took to make him happy.
And if last season was the start of things to come for Tunsil, this will be money well spent.