Houston’s start left tackle Laremy Tunsil recently underwent knee surgery to address a recurring issue which caused him to miss 3 games during the 2023 campaign.
Tunsil, who is fresh off his 4th Pro Bowl selection in 5 seasons since joining the Texans, is widely considered one of the best LT’s in the league, especially when it comes to pass protection. A fact that reigning OROY C.J. Stroud is acutely aware of.
Over the course of 571 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, the 29 year old allowed just 23 pressures on his rookie QB per PFF. In 2022 he was even better allowing just 17 pressures on 638 snaps. With Tunsil’s contract running through 2026, he and Stroud will be afforded the opportunity to continue to grow together and help the Houston offense take the next step this upcoming season.
Originally drafted 13th overall in 2016 by the Miami Dolphins, the 6’5″ 313lbs offensive tackle was traded to Houston alongside WR Kenny Stills, a 4th, and a 6th round pick in exchange for two 1st rounders and a 2nd round selection back in 2019. At the time, Tunsil was brought in to protect Deshaun Watson’s blindside on a leaky Houston O-line.
Fast forward 5 seasons later and suddenly the veteran tackle is now an elder statesman on a Texans roster that features a bevy of young offensive talent. Along with Stroud, Houston also boasts wide receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and John Metchie III, along with running back Dameon Pierce to form an underrated nucleus in the AFC South.
Current reports indicate that Tunsil should have no issues being ready for the start of training camps. As it currently stands, the Texans have $54M in cap space, and eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including the 23rd overall selection.
That financial flexibility, along with having a solid WR group, franchise QB, and star LT already in place will allow the team to get creative in the coming weeks as they begin to round out their roster in an effort to repeat as AFC South Divisional champions.
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