NFL: Houston Texans’ Laremy Tunsil wants to be the highest-paid tackle and ‘to reset market’

Houston Texans Pro Bowl left tackle is headed into the final year of his contract and has said he wants to ‘reset’ the offensive tackle market this offseason.

The 28-year-old stalwart was named the AFC’s starting left tackle in the Pro Bowl and plans to renegotiate his contract in the offseason.

‘I don’t know who’s the highest right now, maybe Trent [Williams] at $23million, but I want to top that,’ Tunsil told ESPN.

Houston Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (78) wants to ‘reset’ the offensive tackle market

‘Always want to reset the market. Perfect opportunity to reset the market. Everything is lining up as far as my contract to how I’m playing. Everything lining up perfectly.’ 

Williams became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history at making an average of $23,010,000 per season, after signing a six-year, $138.06m deal with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2021.

Of that, $55.1m was fully guaranteed with a $30.1m signing bonus. 

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams is currently the league’s highest paid OT

Going into the 2023 season Tunsil will have a salary of $18.5m and his cap number will be $35,210,834. His dead-cap number is $16,710,834, which could make trading or releasing him to free up salary cap space a very realistic possibility, however a new contract like he desires would provide long-term security.

His production has ranked among the best in the league this season as he has allowed only one sack all year (tied for second fewest), 12 pressures (third fewest), and has a pass win rate of 92 percent which is currently 12th best among tackles.

‘Something that motivated me during the offseason was an article that came out that said I was a very good starter,’ Tunsil said.

Tennessee Titans linebacker Bud Dupree (48) rushes as he’s blocked by Tunsil on December 24

‘So that gave me your fuel to just get back to playing football because I did miss 12 games last year because of the thumb injury. But just coming back just to show everybody that I am the best tackle.’ 

He said he hopes his hard work this year will lead to him receiving the first All-Pro nod of his career.

 ‘Let me honor the Pro Bowl. It feels good to be a Pro Bowl starter, getting voted in from the coaches and players, so I’m blessed to have that opportunity,’ Tunsil said.

‘To [potentially] get an All-Pro nod? Man, I’ve been working my a** off for all seven years just to get acknowledged as an All-Pro. I feel like that’s one of the biggest achievements in the NFL.’