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Ole Miss Trend-Setter to NFL Bag-Getter: Laremy Tunsil is the NFL’s highest-paid left tackle

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•03/19/23•

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All-time Ole Miss great Laremy Tunsil

Laremy Tunsil has been a trend-setter ever since he spurned Georgia for Ole Miss as a five-star prospect and the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country in the Rebels’ greatest-ever recruiting class back in 2013.

He’s continued to break the mold in the many years since, including a now-eight-year stay in the NFL.

Tunsil on Sunday again became the highest-paid left tackle in the league history — re-upping with the Houston Texans on a new, three-year deal worth $75 million. The contract fully guarantees $50 million. He’ll receive $30 million in signing bonus. 

Tunsil has started every game in which he’s appeared (94) since being drafted No. 13 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft. He should have gone higher, but he dropped after a bunch of nonsense on draft night.

Tunsil was widely mocked as the potential top-overall selection. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein at the time described Tunsil “as the best left tackle in the league, or one of the the top two, within three years.” 

He’s of course proven Zierlein — and the entire Ole Miss community, which was already well-aware of his generational talent — right time and again.

Tunsil was one of three first-round Rebels (the others were Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche) that year.

However, he’s had far and away the most success. He’ll soon enter his eighth NFL season, and because of the short nature of his contract, which Tunsil helped negotiate himself, he’ll be up for a fifth lucrative contract while still in his prime as a 30, 31-year-old.

Dominant from the start, Tunsil was an All-American and All-SEC selection in his three seasons at Ole Miss. He was a first-team All-SEC honoree twice. 

His myriad career accomplishments include a dominant, no-sacks-allowed performance against Texas A&M as a junior. Tunsil completely neutralized then-Texas A&M EDGE Myles Garrett, who would go on to become an NFL Draft No. 1. 

Tunsil also helped Ole Miss to the Sugar Bowl and a win over Oklahoma State. Easily one of the game’s most memorable plays was his two-yard rushing touchdown. 

In all, Tunsil will get $60 million in guarantees from the Texans. He’s starred for Houston the last four seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in three of the last four. Tunsil was limited to just five games in 2021 due to thumb surgery. He was with the Dolphins for three seasons. He was a PFWA All-Rookie in 2016.

Other former Rebels to notably sign new NFL deals this week are CJ Moore (Detroit Lions) and Myles Hartsfield (San Francisco 49ers).

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