When the news broke that the Houston Texans had traded three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, my immediate reaction was shock and disbelief. Throughout the offseason, there had been occasional speculation about trading Tunsil, but I never seriously entertained the idea. My reasoning was simple: the Texans had a bad offensive line last season, so how could moving on from their best pass blocker—despite his penalties or leadership concerns—possibly make sense?
At first, I was strongly against it. But once the shock wore off, I started to ask myself: Why did they do it? The more I dug into the reasons, the more the move made sense. While it wasn’t an easy decision for Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans, it was a calculated one, based on salary cap implications, long-term roster planning, and a shift in offensive line philosophy. Let’s break it down.
1. The Financial Side: Texans Clear Cap Space for Future Stars
The biggest reason for trading Tunsil seems to be the salary cap impact. Tunsil was under contract for two more seasons, with massive cap hits:
2025: $25.8 million
2026: $21.3 million
By trading him, the Texans immediately freed up $41.9 million in cap space over the next two seasons. The dead cap hit (likely from prepaid signing bonuses) accounts for the difference between his cap hit and the savings.
This move was necessary because the Texans are preparing to pay several key players in the near future:
Derek Stingley Jr.: Eligible for an extension this offseason and expected to command a top-of-the-market deal after Jaycee Horn signed a 4-year, $100 million extension ($25M per year, $70M guaranteed).
C.J. Stroud: While Stroud isn't eligible for an extension until 2026, the team must plan ahead given how quickly quarterback contracts escalate.
Will Anderson Jr.: The non-quarterback market was recently reset with Myles Garrett’s $40M per year contract and Maxx Crosby’s $35M per year deal. Anderson is on track for a similar payday in the next few years.
Danielle Hunter (if extended): The Texans may want to keep Hunter long-term, depending on his 2025 performance.
This trade frees up significant cap space to keep these foundational players, rather than overcommitting to an aging left tackle who may not be worth his future salary.
2. Play vs. Contract: Tunsil Wasn't an All-Pro in 2024
While Tunsil remained one of the best pure pass blockers in the league, his overall impact didn't quite match his contract value.
Run Blocking: While Tunsil’s run-blocking grade actually improved in 2024, the Texans' offensive line as a whole still struggled to impose its will in the run game. The issue wasn’t just individual blocking but a collective lack of finishing plays and creating push in short-yardage situations.
Leadership Questions: As the highest-paid lineman, he should have been a tone-setter, but he had a reputation for:
Committing drive-killing penalties, which is unacceptable for a veteran leader.
Not fully embodying the grit and toughness that DeMeco Ryans wants from his offensive line.
One moment that went viral today was Tunsil’s Beyoncé cleat post after the Texans’ Christmas Day loss to the Ravens. While likely a pre-scheduled promotional post, the timing seemed out of touch and rubbed fans the wrong way, reinforcing the idea that his priorities weren’t fully aligned with the team’s.
Ultimately, the Texans had to ask themselves: Was Tunsil still worth his massive contract, penalties, and leadership concerns? Clearly, their answer was no.
3. The Offensive Line Culture Needed a Shift
One of the most frustrating aspects of the Texans’ offensive line in 2024 was the lack of toughness and unity. A good offensive line prides itself on protecting the quarterback, but the Texans rarely showed urgency in moments where it mattered:
When C.J. Stroud was sacked, players weren’t rushing to help him up.
When Stroud was hit late, there was no retaliation or confrontation.
When the pocket collapsed, there were too many moments of finger-pointing instead of accountability.
The best offensive lines in football play with a nasty, aggressive attitude—something DeMeco Ryans has preached since becoming head coach. That identity was lacking, and perhaps parting ways with Tunsil was about resetting the offensive line culture as much as the contract numbers.
Firing Bobby Slowik and Chris Strausser was step one. Trading Tunsil might be step two in bringing in players who fit the Texans’ desired mindset.
4. The Texans' New Offensive Line Plan
With Tunsil gone, the Texans must now fill the left tackle spot—one of the most critical positions in football. The two in-house candidates are:
Blake Fisher – The second-round rookie played 44 total snaps at LT last season, including 16 vs. New England, where he graded highly.
The projected lineup looks something like this:
LT: Tytus Howard or Blake Fisher
LG: TBD (Laken Tomlinson, Juice Scruggs)
C: Jarrett Patterson
RG: TBD (likely a draft pick or free agent)
RT: Blake Fisher or Tytus Howard
There’s work to do, but the Texans could use the savings from the Tunsil trade to sign a veteran guard and draft another offensive lineman, making the overall unit stronger despite weakening at tackle.
A good interior offensive line is arguably more important for a pocket passer like Stroud because it prevents interior pressure that disrupts timing and accuracy. If moving Tunsil allows the Texans to fortify the interior, it could be a net positive even if left tackle play declines slightly.
5. Was Blake Fisher Drafted as Tunsil’s Replacement?
Looking back, the Blake Fisher pick in Round 2 last year caught many by surprise. At the time, it was assumed to be Tytus Howard’s eventual replacement, but what if the plan was always to prepare for a possible Tunsil departure?
Caserio has previously said he values having three quality tackles on the roster for depth and injury reasons. Last season, we saw why—Howard moved inside, forcing Fisher into the starting lineup at right tackle.
Now, Fisher has a real shot at taking over as a starting tackle. If he proves himself, the Texans may have saved significant cap space while still maintaining a viable left tackle option.
That said, this likely wasn’t a master plan from the start, but rather a depth move knowing that Fisher might eventually have to replace either Tunsil or Howard in the future. Today, it just so happens that he looks like Tunsil’s de facto replacement.
Final Verdict: This Was a Tough But Smart Move
At first, I hated the idea of trading Laremy Tunsil. He was our best pass protector, and losing him seemed like a step backward for the offensive line. But after analyzing the move, I’ve come to fully support it.
The salary cap relief allows the Texans to keep key players like Stingley, Anderson, and Stroud.
Tunsil’s play didn’t justify his contract anymore, especially with the penalties and declining leadership.
The Texans needed a culture reset on the offensive line, and this move helps that.
The OL could still improve overall if the team reinvests in guards and Fisher develops into a solid tackle.
It wasn’t an easy decision, and it may rock the locker room temporarily (as Joe Mixon hinted on Instagram). But Caserio and Ryans have shown they’re willing to make the tough calls to put this team in the best position to win a Super Bowl.
Tunsil was a great player for Houston, but it was time to move on.
Checkout my full analysis from my livestream lastnight:
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