Washington Commanders offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil has been named the No. 86 on the NFL's annual list of top 100 players, marking the fifth time in his career that he has received a ranking.
"I think LT [Tunsil] is a hell of a player," said running back Joe Mixon. "He's one of the best left tackles in this league. I think that...he does everything the right way in the way that he prepares each and every week. I mean, the guy's a monster and a great guy as well. I love everything about him."
Tunsil (6-5, 316) is a 10-year NFL veteran who entered the league with the Miami Dolphins as a first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. In his career, Tunsil has started in all 125 games he has appeared in and is a five-time Pro Bowler. In 2016, he earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.
From 2019-2024, Tunsil played for the Houston Texans where he started in 81 games and earned Pro Bowl honors in each season. In 2024, Tunsil registered an 89.1 pass block grade from PFF among all offensive tackles. He also had a pass block win rate of 93 percent on 411 total snaps, tied for the seventh best among all offensive tackles, per ESPN analytics.
Since 2022, Tunsil has earned a 91.7 pass blocking grade (second among all offensive tackles) and allowed a presser rate of 3.1 percent, the third best among all offensive tackles.
The Commanders entered the offseason with the goal of finding a player who can protect quarterback Jayden Daniels as he tries to improve upon his record-setting rookie campaign and lead their offense for the foreseeable future. Rather than spend money on a player with less experience and more upside, they chose to send a package of draft picks to the Texans for Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowler and widely considered one of the best left tackles in the sport.
It was a steep price -- a 2025 third-round pick, 2025 seventh-round pick, 2026 second-round pick and 2026 fourth-round pick -- but they felt that fortifying one of the most important positions on the field was worth it. Tunsil is looking to prove them right by keeping Daniels safe.
"In my opinion, they traded for me for that reason, just to make a huge impact on the team," Tunsil said. "I'm down to do whatever they want me to do, especially at Year 10. If they need me to play quarterback and back up Jayden Daniels, then I can do that -- running back, whatever."
Tunsil's presence instantly raises the talent level of the Commanders' offensive line and provides Daniels with a proven protector. Peters believes the trade was worth it, despite the steep price, because premier left tackles "don't come on the market very often." The Commanders were too far down in the first-round pecking order to draft one of the best prospects at the position, making a trade the most viable option.
"He's, in our opinion, one of the best," Peters said. "You could say he's...top two in pass protection. I think he's underrated as a run-blocker, too."
Peters added that there were people on the team who vouched for him, so they're confident he can be a good locker room fit -- a key requisite for Peters' and head coach Dan Quinn's culture.
"Early returns show he's been great," Peters said. "He's connected with a lot of our guys, and I think he's gonna be a great addition ... Those opportunities [acquiring a left tackle] are rare, so we thought it was right to pounce on it."
