A spectacular 2024 season has the Washington Commanders confident they can repeat — or even surpass — their success from last year. As a result, the team has been extremely active this offseason, both in free agency and through trades.
After acquiring Deebo Samuel earlier in the week, Washington made another move to support Jayden Daniels on offense. This time, it was about giving their dual-threat quarterback better protection, adding a five-time Pro Bowler from the Houston Texans.
Washington Commanders Add Offensive Line Help for Jayden Daniels
The Commanders already had a solid offensive line last season, finishing seventh in PFSN’s OL+ metric. However, there was still room for improvement, especially with Daniels’ tendency to scramble and hold onto the ball longer than average.
The front office recognized the need for an upgrade and went after Laremy Tunsil from the Texans. While Houston had one of the league’s worst offensive lines, Tunsil was the exception.
Adam Schefter broke the news on X, posting, “Trade: Texans are trading five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders for a package of picks, sources tell ESPN.”
He later detailed the trade specifics, with Washington receiving Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-round pick. In return, Houston acquired a significant haul of draft capital, including a 2025 third- and seventh-round pick, as well as a second- and fourth-round pick in 2026.
It’s a steep price for Washington, but the production Tunsil brings is undeniable. For a team that ranked middle of the pack in pressure rate last season, adding Tunsil allows them to move rookie Brandon Coleman back to his natural right tackle position.
Ben Rolfe of PFSN fully supported the move from Washington’s perspective. “Adding Laremy Tunsil at left tackle only serves to boost the Washington offensive line. With Tunsil, this unit should remain a top-10 group in 2025 and could easily finish the year inside the top five,” he wrote.
Coleman, who was a solid starter for the Commanders last season, allowed a 6.6% pressure rate. However, that number is significantly higher than Tunsil’s, who allowed just 3.0%, the second-best mark in the league.
While Tunsil’s tendency to rack up penalties has been an issue throughout his career — he led the league with 17 last season and has 59 total over six years — his value is undeniable. If Kliff Kingsbury’s offense can address his false start and penalty problems, he could elevate the unit in a big way.
For Houston, the draft haul they received is massive. However, parting ways with one of their only bright spots on the offensive line is a perplexing decision. They already had the second-worst offensive line in football last season, and this move only makes things worse. If the Texans don’t address their protection issues, they risk another disappointing season in 2025.
Whether through the draft, free agency, or more trades, Houston must prioritize protecting C.J. Stroud and ensuring running back Joe Mixon has room to operate.
Rolfe echoed this concern from the Texans’ side. “Trading Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders only serves to hurt this line further. The Texans now need to make improvements right across the line, starting with adding a left tackle they can trust to protect Stroud’s blindside. Without significant investment, this could be the worst line in the NFL.”
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For Washington, this move is another step in their push to become a perennial playoff and Super Bowl contender. Last season, they made a splash by acquiring Marshon Lattimore.
Now, with the offseason trades for Samuel and Tunsil, their mindset is clear. It’s about taking the next step from NFC Championship Game participant to legitimate Super Bowl threat.