Breaking Down the Houston Texans’ Shocking Decision to Trade Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders

When the Texans traded Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders, my first reaction was pure shock. I never seriously considered the idea because, on the surface, it didn’t make sense. Houston’s offensive line struggled last year, so why would they trade their best pass protector?

I initially dismissed any Tunsil trade talk this offseason, thinking, Sure, he has penalties and some leadership questions, but trading him would be a huge risk. But after taking a step back and really analyzing it, I’ve completely flipped—I actually love this move.

Why This Trade Makes Sense for the Texans

🔹 Cap Space Matters More Than Ever The Texans immediately clear $41.9M over the next two seasons by moving Tunsil’s contract. That money is critical with massive extensions looming for:

Derek Stingley Jr. – After Jaycee Horn’s $100M contract, Stingley is expected to command $25M+ per year

Will Anderson Jr. – The non-QB market just reset with Myles Garrett’s $40M per year deal

C.J. Stroud – The Texans need to prepare for an eventual mega-extension

If the Texans weren’t planning to extend Tunsil anyway, moving him now in a scarce left tackle market maximizes their return and avoids cap headaches later.

🔹 Tunsil’s Play Didn’t Fully Match His Contract

Still an elite pass protector, but led the NFL in penalties (mostly false starts)—many of which killed key drives.

Run blocking actually improved in 2024, but overall, the Texans’ offensive line lacked toughness and finishing ability.

Leadership concerns – Tunsil rarely practiced in camp, and when C.J. Stroud took late hits or sacks, the OL didn’t show the fire you’d expect from a unit protecting a franchise QB.

🔹 This Was Also About a Culture Shift DeMeco Ryans has emphasized “nastiness” in the trenches, something this OL simply didn’t have. Players need to finish blocks, play with grit, and rally around their quarterback. Trading Tunsil might be part of reshaping the mindset of the offensive line as much as anything else.

What Happens at Left Tackle Now?

Right now, it looks like a Tytus Howard vs. Blake Fisher battle for the LT spot:

Tytus Howard – Played 244 snaps at LT in 2024 and looked solid. Moving him back outside might make his contract more palatable.

Blake Fisher – Drafted in the 2nd round last year, Fisher was seen as a depth pick. But now, he could be Tunsil’s de facto replacement.

Aaron Wilson reported today that Tytus Howard is expected to play LT & Blake Fisher RT

Did Caserio draft Fisher specifically to replace Tunsil? Probably not—it was likely a flexible option knowing that either Tunsil or Howard might not be long-term pieces. But today, Fisher looks like Tunsil’s replacement by default.

Final Thoughts – This Was a Tough but Smart Move

At first, I hated the idea of trading Laremy Tunsil. But once I dug into the numbers, cap situation, and the team’s future needs, I flipped.

✅ Freed up cap space for Stingley, Stroud, and Anderson’s extensions ✅ Avoided paying premium for an aging left tackle ✅ Helped reshape the offensive line’s mentality ✅ Gives Houston flexibility to sign/draft better interior OL

It wasn’t an easy decision, and it may rock the locker room (as Joe Mixon hinted on Instagram), but it shows that Caserio and Ryans aren’t afraid to make tough calls in pursuit of long-term success.

I break it all down in my full analysis here:

🔗 Read the full breakdown: houstonstressans.com/post/breaking-down-the-houston-texans-shocking-decision-to-trade-laremy-tunsil-to-the-washington-commandm

How do you feel about the trade?