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Could the Patriots trade for Texans’ Laremy Tunsil?

By Lou Scataglia

FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans reacts before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans reacts before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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There has been no indication that he could be moved, but there is an obvious connection and need between the Patriots and left tackle Laremy Tunsil.  Bill Belichick is clearly someone who isn’t afraid to make big moves, especially as of late.

With the 2023 free agency period slowly approaching, Belichick again has cap space and draft picks at his disposal.  He may end up being aggressive in free agency yet again, and that might not be a bad thing.

As we know, the biggest need for the Patriots just might be their offensive line, which was pathetically inconsistent in 2022 under the play-calling of Matt Patricia.  Now that Patricia is out of the picture, the team seems to now be under better leadership with Bill O’Brien.

O’Brien coached the Houston Texans from 2014-2020 and did enjoy some success.  In the later years of his tenure there, he was given GM duties as well.  One of the bigger moves he did was trading for and extending left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

The extension he signed with the Texans was worth $66 million.  He’s now at the end of that extension; he’s in the last year of his deal and has a whopping $35 million cap hit in 2023.

One of two things will happen in all likelihood:

  • He’ll be extended in Houston to lower the cap hit and to lock him up longer

OR

  • He’ll be traded to a new team who will then extend the tackle

Tunsil was drafted in 2016 and was traded to the Texans in 2019.  He’s an elite player at the position, but one thing that has plagued him for his entire career are the penalties.

He’s a heavily penalized player, perhaps approaching a “boom or bust” type of situation.  According to Pro Football Reference, Tunsil has been called for 60 penalties over his seven year career.  That’s about 8.5 penalties per season.

He is a three time Pro Bowler who started every game this season and isn’t yet 30 years old.  The argument for the Patriots to trade for the player is obvious.  It’d probably cost their first round pick at least, and he’d need a new deal, which would likely be for three or four seasons.

This would really secure the left side of the offensive line for years to come for the Patriots.  The team would also kick Trent Brown back to the right side if they wanted as that is he stronger position.

This scenario could be one of many avenues the team takes to try and fix their tackle situation.

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