Laremy Tunsil’s legacy might hinge on what happens next in Washington

Laremy Tunsil was the Washington Commanders' marquee offseason addition. He's a legitimate difference maker who'll be tasked with keeping quarterback Jayden Daniels' blindside clear of danger. And it's something he's done exceptionally well throughout his career.

Tunsil's importance to the Commanders cannot be overstated. One NFL analyst believes his role will be more pivotal than anyone besides the team's new franchise-caliber presence under center.

Adam Peters wanted to stabilize the trenches for Daniels. His mobility and ability to escape pressure masked a lot of Washington's problems last season. He's capable of doing the same again, but the Commanders didn't leave anything to chance.

Acquiring Tunsil via trade from the Houston Texans was the major statement of intent Peters had in mind. He's among the league's best edge protectors, especially on passing downs. He's also got the added incentive of another new deal on the horizon if the performance levels match.

Laremy Tunsil could be Commanders' most important player aside from Jayden Daniels

This could be an absolute game-changer for the Commanders. Jared Dubin from CBS Sports agrees, naming Tunsil as the most important non-quarterback on the squad in 2025.

It was tough to choose a player for Washington, which needs to show more improvement on defense than offense. There are so many areas that need work, though, that it's tough to land on just one player as the most important. So instead we came back around to the Commies' biggest (literally) offseason addition in [Laremy] Tunsil, who will be counted on to secure Jayden Daniels in the pocket. He had a relatively tough season in 2024, taking a ton of penalties, but at his best he is still an elite left tackle.Jared Dubin

Daniels is the superstar. But his meteoric rise to prominence won't be sustainable unless he has the offensive line to match his talent.

Tunsil is here to change all that. He's an alpha dog in every sense of the term. Washington hasn't had a left tackle like this since Trent Williams, and the benefits should be substantial if he grasps the latest big opportunity coming his way.

Couple this with the Commanders' decision to take Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Daniels now has a legitimate bookend tackle tandem to trust. Having this extra sense of security and inner comfort is only going to enhance his chances of keeping up his extraordinary early surge into the elite conversation.

And that's a win-win for everybody as the Commanders look to go on another deep playoff run.

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