For the first time in NFL history, the league announced on Wednesday that it will add an annual ‘Protector of the Year’ award to its end-of-year ballots. The award will go to the league’s top offensive lineman in an effort to recognize the league’s big men who are integral to the success of every NFL team.
Of course, as with anything new in the league, NFL analysts and insiders are already giving us an early peek at some of the players we might see on the inaugural ballot at the end of the 2025 season. One of those players is Washington Commanders offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Tunsil has been more mercurial than some of the NFL’s most respected left tackles; it’s one reason he’s already been traded twice in his career. Relocating from a messy Houston Texans front to Washington, where the slippery Jayden Daniels is now his quarterback, could shoot his stock to the moon.
Tunsil has been mercurial because he’s smart. He’s been traded twice, at his own request, and each time has increased his earnings and placed himself in a role designed for success. After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins and playing three seasons there, Tunsil successfully lobbied for a trade to the Houston Texans when Deshaun Watson was in his prime.
After Watson departed for Cleveland in 2020, Tunsil remained with the team through C.J. Stroud’s first two seasons before being traded to the surging Commanders. Representing himself, Tunsil is his own advocate and negotiator.
Playing tackle for a quarterback like Jayden Daniels is definitely going to help his stock for this award, especially if Tunsil plays like we all know he can. We’ll see how the season goes and which linemen are ready to compete even harder now that there’s an award at the end of the year, but don’t be surprised if Tunsil remains on the short list.
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