All contract details have been obtained from **[Over the Cap](https://overthecap.com/player/laremy-tunsil/4726)**
**This is what Tunsil’s contract with the Commanders looked like prior to this month’s extension:**
* The extension reduced 2026 cap hit from $24.9m to $11.9m
* Tunsil received a $32.5 million signing bonus and his 2026 and 2027 salaries + 2027 option payment are fully guaranteed
* With an average annual value of nearly $32m over 3 years, the new deal is heavily back-loaded from a salary cap standpoint; it has a 2027 cap hit of just $17.2m, jumping to $42.2m in ‘28 (with an additional $24.6m buried in a pair of void years)
This contract puts $66.8m in salary cap into 2028 + void years, which signals very clearly that the Commanders have every intention of extending Tunsil again when this contract comes to an end. It seems very likely that Tunsil will have the chance to re-set the offensive tackle market for a 4th time in the 2028 offseason. I imagine that he wanted the relatively shorter-term extension to give him the chance to do exactly that.
However, when this contract is considered on a _cash basis_ (instead of cap), it is clear that the Commanders are fully committed to Tunsil for only two seasons (’26 & ‘27).
**Cut after 2026**: **$53m** for one season
* Signing bonus: 32.5m
* 2026 base: $1.5m
* per game/workout bonuses: $400k (_based on playing 17 games_)
* 2027 guaranteed option + salary: $18.66m
**Cut after 2027: $53.44m** (**$26.72m** per season)
* $53m accounted for in 2026 (above)
* per game/workout bonuses: $440k
**Contract terminates at end of 2028: $81.6m** (**$27.2m** per season)
* $53.44m paid through 2027 (above)
* 2028 base: $27.66m
* per game/workout bonuses: $440k
* **2026: $34.4m** (signing bonus + base salary + per game/workout bonuses)
* **2027: $19.1m** (option ($16m) + base salary + per game/workout bonuses)
* **2028: $28.1m** (base salary + per game/workout bonuses)
Total cash paid to Tunsil over 3 years: **$81.6m** (**$27.2m** per year)
As you can see, whether looked at from the team’s perspective or from Tunsil’s, the deal will pay him **_in cash_** either $26.7m per season for 2 years, or $27.2m per season for 3 years.
The $30.2m per season figure that has been talked about in reports this month refers to the money _added_ in the 2-year extension, but the (relatively) low cash commitment of just $21.35m for 2026 under his ‘old’ contract (before the extension) helps pull the average numbers down in the new 3-year post-extension contract.
The Commanders have a clear “off ramp” at the end of the ‘27 season, when they can cut Tunsil having paid him $53.4m for two seasons and taking the ‘dead cap’ accounting entry for $38.7m (_dead cap =_ _money paid to Tunsil in ‘26 & ‘27 but charged in the cap accounting system in 2028 or later_).
This contract indicates that the team has a high level of confidence that Tunsil will continue to play at a top-tier level to the end of this contract and beyond, but the team’s absolute commitment under the guarantee structure is just two years (2026 & 2027).
Of course, the cap space saved by deferring Tunsil’s cap hits can be rolled over if not used, and it appears as if the Commanders will have a substantial amount of space at the end of 2026 to carry into 2027.