Brandon Coleman did a good job playing left tackle for the Washington Commanders in 2024. It was even more impressive when you consider that Coleman was a rookie third-round pick who many believe was better suited to playing guard in the NFL.
However, in certain games, such as the NFC championship against the Philadelphia Eagles, Coleman had some issues slowing down Philly's pass rushers. While he remained a valuable part of Washington's future, general manager Adam Peters wanted to solidify quarterback Jayden Daniels' blind side with one of the NFL's premium left tackles.
But how would Peters land one of those players? Teams don't let top offensive tackles hit the open market. The Commanders shocked everyone on the first day of free agency, agreeing to a trade with the Houston Texans for five-time Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil. The move gives Washington one of the NFL's top pass protectors and allows offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to shift Coleman elsewhere, whether at right tackle or inside at left guard.
Daniels was excited about Tunsil's arrival, not only because he's a great teammate and leader, but also because he knows he'll be even safer in the pocket with Tunsil on the field.
According to The 33rd Team, Tunsil is second in the entire NFL with the lowest allowed pressure rates over the past three seasons at 3.2%. Only Tampa Bay All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs is ahead of Tunsil at 2.3%.
There is no more important player to a franchise than the quarterback, especially when you have a special one. It's only been one season, but the Commanders know they have one of the best in Daniels. So, whatever the cost to protect Daniels, it was not too much.
