Tag: Laremy Tunsil

Texans LT Laremy Tunsil: ‘We were all hurt’ from the DeAndre Hopkins trade

Houston Texans LT Laremy Tunsil says that the team was hurt when they first heard about WR DeAndre Hopkins being traded to the Arizona Cardinals.

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Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil says the entire team was hurt when they first learned of the DeAndre Hopkins trade.

On March 16, reports surfaced that the Texans were going to trade their three-time All-Pro receiver and a 2020 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round selection.

“We were all hurt from the Hop trade, especially because that was one of the guys that actually brought me under his wing when I came in,” Tunsil told reporters on Monday. “I was hurt, but that’s just a part of the business that we currently work in and you really can’t do much about it.”

After allowing the emotions to run their course, Tunsil has decided to look to the positive, especially the acquisitions coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has made in the aftermath of trading Hopkins.

“I’m extremely excited that the guys we’ve got coming in, they’re all playmakers and I can’t wait to work with them,” Tunsil said.

The Texans added Johnson, who is slated to be the starting running back. Houston also signed slot receiver Randall Cobb and traded with the Los Angeles Rams for wideout Brandin Cooks.

Houston also added two offensive players in the 2020 NFL Draft in North Carolina tackle Charlie Heck and Rhode Island receiver Isaiah Coulter.

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Laremy Tunsil says an extension was not on his mind when he came to Texans

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil says that he was not thinking about an extension when the Miami Dolphins traded him to the AFC South club.

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Laremy Tunsil says that a contract extension was not on his mind when the Miami Dolphins traded him to the Houston Texans at the end of last preseason.

The former 2016 first-round pick, who earned his first career Pro Bowl at the end of his first season in Houston, was just trying to get ready to play football when the trade occurred on Aug. 31, 2019.

“That’s a great question because an extension wasn’t really on my mind,” Tunsil told reporters on Monday. “I was just in shock that I got traded from Miami to Houston and then I had play in the game in a couple of days. So, an extension wasn’t really on my mind.”

The Texans took on the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 last season. Tunsil and the Texans at least had the advantage of the season opener being on Monday Night Football, even if it was on the road at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Nevertheless, the former Ole Miss Rebel is thankful to have a new contract with the Texans.

“I’m glad we got it done with the Texans,” Tunsil said. “I’m glad to be a Texan for the next three or four years, and excited to be in this position.”

Tunsil is the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL with an average annual salary of $22 million.

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Texans lock up Laremy Tunsil for three years, $22 million annually

The Houston Texans have signed Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a three-year contract extension worth $22 million a year.

Laremu Tunsil wasn’t getting away.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Texans signed the Pro Bowl left tackle to a three-year contract extension that includes $57 million guaranteed, a $13 million signing bonus, and will cost the AFC South club $22 million a year.

Tunsil is now the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

“Laremy and I have been in touch quite a bit,” coach and general manager  Bill O’Brien told reporters on April 16. “Laremy is a great guy, a great part of our team. We’ve been in a lot of contact. I don’t want to get into the details of that but we’re working hard to try to get a deal done.”

The deal is done, and the Texans now have their Pro Bowl left tackle able to protect franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson through the middle part of the upcoming decade.

On Aug. 31, 2019, the Texans traded cornerback Johnson Bademosi, tackle Julien Davenport, a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2021 second-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for Tunsil, receiver Kenny Stills, and a 2020 fourth-round selection.

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How Mekhi Becton’s failed drug test could impact Jets’ draft plans

The Jets Wire takes a look at how Mekhi Becton’s flagged drug test could alter the New York Jets’ draft strategy come this Thursday.

Former Louisville left tackle and Jets draft target Mekhi Becton had a drug test flagged at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The 6-foot-7, 367-pound tackle is aware of the flagged drug test and has addressed the situation with multiple clubs while still waiting for the official notification, according to ESPN. Becton will go into Stage 1 of the league’s intervention program for no more than 60 days under the NFL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement. If Becton is not flagged again within those next 60 days, he would assume the same status as players who have never been referred to the program, Rapoport reports.

Although Becton did not have a history of failed tests in college, this one could still hinder his draft stock. He could see a fall in the draft similar to what offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil went through in the 2016 draft after a video of him smoking marijuana mysteriously appeared on his Twitter feed.

Becton’s flagged test could directly impact the Jets’ draft strategy. It’s no secret that the team is leaning toward taking an offensive tackle with the 11th pick, but there remains a chance that Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas could all come off the board before the Jets are on the clock.

That could put the Jets’ in a sticky situation if Becton is the only tackle left. Joe Douglas has preached improving the Jets’ culture and, while it would be unfair to characterize Becton as someone with a character issue after one isolated incident, sometimes that’s the way of the NFL. With potentially three offensive tackles off the board and Becton sliding, it could shift the Jets’ attention to wide receiver at No. 11.

The Jets have done their homework on Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy. So, if they take issue with Becton’s test and don’t have other tackles to choose from, any of those wideouts are in play.

Becton has been linked to the Jets since the combine. As of now, he remains one of the team’s primary targets. Becton was the only one of the top offensive tackles to visit the Jets multiple times in the pre-draft process before visits were shut down due to the pandemic. He has the athleticism and mobility for his size to come in and play either tackle position, something that Douglas has emphasized in his search for offensive linemen this offseason.

This 2016 draft redo has the Bucs landing a franchise offensive tackle

NFL.com did a 2016 draft redo, and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they find a franchise tackle rather than a bust of a cornerback.

The 2020 NFL draft is almost upon us, and if mock drafts are to be believed, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be looking to take an offensive tackle in round one with the 14th pick.

It really isn’t all that surprising when you consider the Bucs have invested their short-term future in quarterback Tom Brady, who brings a wealth of championship experience with him to Tampa Bay. After the Bucs saw Jameis Winston have one of the most bizarrely entertaining seasons ever for a quarterback in 2019 — 5,109 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions — Tampa Bay decided a change was in order. And what better way to make a change than with a future Hall of Famer like Brady.

The Bucs’ O-line was a major issue last season, so finding a franchise offensive tackle that can help keep Brady upright is priority number one for the Bucs. But, in the their 2016 NFL draft redo over at NFL.com, the team of writers had the Bucs finding that franchise tackle with the 11th pick that year in Mississippi’s Laremy Tunsil.

Per Jim Trotter:

“When you have the chance to land an offensive tackle who would later be the centerpiece of a trade that commands two first-round picks and a second-round selection, you take him. Quickly.”

Trotter is of course referring to the trade between the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans prior to last season that brought Tunsil to Houston.

Back to the 2016 draft, though. The Bucs used their pick that year to take cornerback Vernon Hargreaves out of Florida, and we all know how that turned out. Hargreaves was cut following Tampa Bay’s Week 10 win over the Arizona Cardinals after being benched in that game for lack of hustle. He ended up landing in Houston of all places, so is now teammates with Tunsil.

Hopefully, the Bucs can find a Tunsil-like tackle in this year’s draft to help anchor their line for years to come.

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Texans meet virtually with former Houston OT Josh Jones

The Houston Texans have met virtually with former University of Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones in preparation for the draft.

The Houston Texans are doing their due diligence by meeting virtually with the University of Houston offensive tackle and Richmond George Bush High School alumnus, Josh Jones.

Easily one of the most impressive offensive linemen in the draft, Jones is a big and powerful force. At 6-5, 319 pounds, he cuts an imposing figure, but despite his size, he shows impressive speed the first few yards, and his ability to move defensive lineman around seemingly easily catches the eye.

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Named second-team All-American Athletic Conference his senior year, Jones is a three-year starter on the blindside who looks natural in the position. He should have few issues transitioning to the NFL and could be a starter his rookie year.

Given that Bill O’Brien’s side has already invested heavily in the offensive line this past year with Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard, and Max Scharping all joining the side in 2019 it seems unlikely they will invest the draft capital necessary to acquire Jones. However, being prepared for a potential drop on the day is a smart move.

What would it cost the Texans to move back into Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Houston Texans don’t have a first round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, but it is possible they could get back up there with a few trades.

The Houston Texans don’t have a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they do have a Pro Bowl left tackle. The trade with the Miami Dolphins cost the Texans their Round 1 selection in this year’s draft as part of the draft package to get Tunsil.

What if there is a player the Texans need in the first round? How would the Texans get back into Round 1 and take that player?

According to the Texans Wire draft value chart, based on the research at DraftTek.com, it would cost the Texans their two second-rounders (No. 40 and 57), and the highest they could get is No. 20 overall in Round 1.

Of course, the value chart is sort of a graphical guideline; it isn’t the rule book for how trades are conducted in the draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars could demand an extra draft pick or a player.

Nonetheless, the chart provides a picture for what it would take for Houston to get back into the first round.

Currently, the Texans have three picks in the top-100 of the NFL draft with their third-rounder coming in at 90th overall. Even if the Texans decide to hold their ground, they still have premium enough picks to fill their remaining holes on the roster.

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A plea to trust the process of Texans coach-GM Bill O’Brien

Houston Texans coach-GM Bill O’Brien has made puzzling moves in the 2020 offseason. However, the only recourse is to trust the process.

2020 could have been a quiet offseason for Houston Texans coach-general manager Bill O’Brien.

His team has been subtle in free agency, re-signing cornerbacks Bradley Roby and Vernon Hargreaves while bringing in under-whelming safety Eric Murray from the Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Randall Cobb from the Dallas Cowboys.

In fact, Houston was able to make waves amidst the quiet sports background of COVID-19 with the signing of Philadelphia Eagle Tim Jernigan on Wednesday. The defensive tackle comes on a cheap, incentive-laden deal and certainly has the talent to make up for some of the production lost when D.J. Reader signed for $10 million per season with the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.

However, rather than quiet, unassuming, or maybe even a somewhat pleasant offseason for Texans fans, the spring thus far has been labeled total Armageddon.

O’Brien, in his first full offseason with total front office powers, already under massive scrutiny for his handling of player situations with Kareem Jackson and Jadeveon Clowney, “Nuked” the franchise — he made the executive decision to move on from All-Pro wide receiver Deandre “Nuk” Hopkins by trading him to the Arizona Cardinals.

Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro since being drafted in 2013 by Houston, had become a fan favorite and a staple of the franchise post-Andre Johnson. The dynamic wide receiver is relatively notorious for having the stickiest hands in the league and had developed quite the rapport with franchise quarterback and fellow Clemson alumnus Deshaun Watson.

In return, Houston received a 2020 second-round pick, a 2021 fourth-round pick, and the massive contract of running back David Johnson. Johnson, who emerged with the Cardinals as an All-Pro back in 2016 racking up over 2,000 total yards, has since failed to rush for 1,000 yards in any of the past three seasons. In 201, Johnson rushed for a mere 345 yards and was benched in favor of Kenyan Drake midseason. To add insult to injury, the seemingly declining running back comes with a hefty cap hit of $14.2 million dollars.

Understandably, Houston fans have been livid and no place has the nuclear carnage manifested more so than social media. Scrolling through any team related article, tweet, or free agent whispers, the ridicule of O’Brien and the front office is widespread and possibly well-deserved. Even quarterback Deshaun Watson took to Twitter following the trade to voice his displeasure, tweeting cryptic lyrics that left many to question what his relationship is with the franchise and moving forward.

Las Vegas sportsbooks have Watson as the odds-on favorite to start for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in 2021.

It is among this uncertainty an argument could be made for the vastly unpopular O’Brien. Like the current seemingly indefinite nature of the COVID-19 “stay-at-home” orders, many fans feel the same way about O’Brien’s term as both Coach and General Manger of the Texans. However, beyond this fact there are major reasons for optimism moving forward into the 2020 regular season.

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Texans’ Laremy Tunsil: ‘I am looking to be the highest paid offensive lineman’

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil told ESPN’s NFL Live that he seeks to be the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil didn’t beat around the bush about the goal of his contract extension.

The Pro Bowler joined ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Thursday for a visit. During the course of the usual talk about how his offseason is going, Tunsil fielded a question about when he hoped to reach an extension with the Texans and if he hoped to raise the bar in the offensive lineman market.

“Of course,” Tunsil said. “I’m not going to talk numbers. I’ll leave that between me and the club, the Texans. But I am looking to be the highest paid offensive lineman, of course.”

Currently, the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL is Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson at $18 million. Anything northward of Johnson’s figures would make Tunsil the highest paid lineman in the league.

The former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick believes he has put in the work the justify such a contract.

“I feel like I work my butt off every day just to be in that position and hopefully we can make it happen,” said Tunsil.

Tunsil is under contract with the Texans through the 2020 season, and would become an unrestricted free agent if a deal weren’t reached.

Laremy Tunsil and Texans to set high bar for Ronnie Stanley’s contract with Ravens

The Ravens are likely itching to get Ronnie Stanley signed to an extension but will have to wait for Laremy Tunsil to fleece the Texans

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The Baltimore Ravens have been masters of signing their key players to extensions before they absolutely have to. General manager Eric DeCosta, since taking over for Ozzie Newsome, has worked hard to bring back star players like kicker Justin Tucker, safety Chuck Clark and cornerback Marcus Peters on long-term extensions before they were set to hit free agency.

DeCosta and the Ravens are looking to continue that new tradition with left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey as soon as this offseason. The problem for Baltimore is Stanley definitely isn’t going to come cheap and it isn’t likely to come before the Houston Texans get a deal done with their franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

According to The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, the Texans’ initial offer to tackle Laremy Tunsil averaged $18.5 million per year. That would make Tunsil the highest-paid offensive tackle in the league by $500,000 a year, according to Over The Cap.

Stanley should be in no rush to get a deal done before Tunsil sets the market for him. He’s the better player and will rightfully want more money than Tunsil to help prove it. And with a league that is continuing to see offenses pass the football more, left tackle might just be the second most important position behind quarterback.

The problem there for the Ravens is the Texans gave up a King’s ransom in their trade for Tunsil last offseason, sending the Miami Dolphins two first-round picks and a second-round pick along with two players. Tunsil rightfully has Houston stuck between a rock and a hard place in any negotiations, which should cause his value to skyrocket. When combined with a 2021 NFL salary cap that is expected to explode thanks to the new CBA, the idea of Tunsil earning $20 million or more per season doesn’t seem that shocking.

The Ravens and Stanley have time to get a deal done, with Baltimore picking up his fifth-year option to keep him under contract through the 2020 season. However, with minimal cap space right now, there could be a little pressure for the Ravens to get an extension signed sooner rather than later to give them a little more cash to spend this offseason.

That means all eyes are on the Texans and Tunsil to see what they can get figured out.

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