All Twenty 2-Minute Drill: Laremy Tunsil’s Contract

Written By Bobby Acker

ICYMI: Laremy Tunsil is the Highest-Paid Tackle in NFL History

This morning, the soon-to-be 29-year-old left tackle signed a 3-year $75M contract to remain with the Houston Texans. Whether you roster Laremy Tunsil or not, his record-breaking contract will certainly have implications at the tackle position.

How this affects your Team

All-22 Positional Weights (Tackle 5.18%)

If you’re new here and unfamiliar with how All-22 positional weights are determined, here’s a detailed guide to get you up to speed. Basically, the more money NFL teams allocate to positions, the more they are weighed in the All-22 scoring formula. These weights are updated annually to reflect the top-5 earners at each position. Sure, Tunsil’s new contract, with an average annual value of $25M, will certainly provide an immediate, yet minimal, boost to the position which currently stands at 5.18%. What’s more interesting about this contract, is how it will impact future contracts.

FUTURE Contracts

In a previous column, we broke down Daniel Jones’s contract and how it would affect the quarterback position. At quarterback, Jones’s new contract made him the 7th highest-paid player at the position and set a benchmark ahead of negotiations for guys like Hurts, Burrow, Herbert, and Lawrence.

Similarly, yet more significantly, Tunsil’s contract makes him the highest-paid at the position at 29 years old. From here, two things will happen that will have massive implications for the tackle position:

  1. Cap Increases: I’ve mentioned this before, here’s a look at the NFL cap projections through 2025:

    • 2022: $208.2M

    • 2023: $224.8M

    • 2024: $256M

    • 2025: $282M

  2. Tackles are going to get PAID: Here are some noteworthy tackles who are due to get paid over the next couple of years:

    • Andrew Thomas

    • Tristan Wirfs

    • Penei Sewell

    • Rashawn Slater

    • Christian Darrisaw

It’s one thing for Daniel Jones to set a benchmark as the 7th highest-paid at the position while he’s still just 25 years old. It’s entirely different for Tunsil to reset the market at 29. With more money in the pot and a significant age advantage, look for all 5 of the young tackles listed above to demand contracts much higher than Laremy Tunsil. Don’t be surprised if we see a $30M tackle in the near future and an All-22 positional value for tackles that exceeds 6 percent.

Bobby Acker

Bobby’s a Co-Founder of All-22. While it’s difficult at times, he does his best to hide his bias towards the New York Giants and players from his alma mater, Florida Atlantic University.

For instant All-22 updates and advice, follow Bobby on Twitter (@All22_Bobby)

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