Commanders' big-name addition still can't shake one stubborn problem

"When the Washington Commanders gave up substantial draft capital for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it was yet another significant statement of intent from general manager Adam Peters. He had the franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels. Now, he managed to secure an elite left tackle to protect his blindside. Tunsil has been as advertised so far. The four-time Pro Bowler is an elite pass protector, capable of keeping even the league's most dangerous edge rushers out of the backfield consistently."

"Nobody is doubting Tunsil's production. He's been one of the league's most accomplished enforcers almost from the moment he came into the NFL as a first-round pick out of Ole Miss. Even so, the number of penalties he's conceding continues to raise alarm bells. After being responsible for 14 penalties last season with the Houston Texans, Tunsil is well on course to match or even exceed this number in Washington."

"Whether Tunsil can rectify these infringement issues at this relatively late stage of his playing career is anyone's guess. The Commanders were aware of this red flag when they traded for him. While the positives far outweigh the negatives, eliminating or reducing the frequency of these penalties would be advantageous. Aside from that, it's been fantastic. Tunsil has given up just one sack from 235 pass-blocking snaps."

The Washington Commanders acquired Laremy Tunsil to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels' blindside, signaling a major commitment of draft capital. Tunsil has performed as an elite pass protector, surrendering only one sack across 235 pass-blocking snaps and earning an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade that ranks fourth league-wide. Run-blocking impact is modest but serviceable. Persistent penalty issues remain a serious concern; Tunsil committed 14 penalties last season and already has seven in 2025, placing him near the bottom of qualifying tackles per PFF. The Commanders knew of this red flag, and reducing penalties would materially improve his overall value.

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