NFL analyst gives Texans rare praise for shocking offseason trade of Laremy Tunsil
NFL analyst gives Texans rare praise for shocking offseason trade of Laremy Tunsil
While the Houston Texans have mostly been considered "losers" of the offseason following the trade of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, one expert isn't as low on their chances to rebound and perhaps improve in 2025.
ESPN's Ben Solak recently broke down in one of his offseason posts, stating that he was a fan of Houston's initial moves on the offensive line to move out Tunsil and former first-round pick Kenyon Green, effectively resetting this group after a brutal year of production.
"Count me among the few who like the Laremy Tunsil deal for the Texans," Solak wrote. "Even if he returned to his 2023 form, he was not saving their offensive line problems on his own. Getting a third-rounder this year and a second-rounder next year is a good deal for a 30-year-old tackle on a megadeal -- especially considering how many flags he draws. That, plus shipping Kenyon Green off for [C.J.] Gardner-Johnson, was a good offloading on an offensive line that desperately needed a culture reset."
Houston's offensive line was dreadful at best in 2025. Despite having the highest payroll among all offensive lines, they allowed the third-most sacks among teams (54). C.J. Stroud, who suffered a sophomore slump, took the brunt of those hits as the second-most sacked quarterback behind only Chicago's Caleb Williams.
By moving Tunsil for four picks, including a future 2026 second-round pick, the Texans can pivot toward the draft in finding stability in their trenches. Most mocks have Houston selecting either Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr, Ohio State's Josh Simmons or Oregon's Josh Connerly, should the pick remain 25th overall.
And yes, Houston still must fix the offensive line if it plans to compete for an AFC conference title. Solak mentioned that while moving off Green and Tunsil was wise, the response on how to replace the duo was underwhelming.
"To buttress their now-depleted offensive line, the Texans signed Trent Brown and Cam Robinson at tackle and Laken Tomlinson at guard, and traded for another guard in Ed Ingram," Solak wrote. "All four of these players have been liabilities on their recent teams. Whether for mental lapses, diminished play in old age or just a low level of talent, these are not the players I'd like taking snaps along my offensive line. Ideally, Ingram and Tomlinson are only ever depth for Houston, but still.
"I was hoping to feel at least cautiously optimistic about the revamped offensive line for third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, and I simply cannot get there with this group."
The Texans own seven picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, including four selections in the top 100.
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