One of the Texans' major offseason goals is locking up one of their cornerstone players: left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Tunsil could become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL and top Philadelphia offensive tackle Lane Johnson’s $72 million deal that includes $55.845 million guaranteed and averages $18 million per year.

Tunsil is expected to aim for a deal averaging at least $19 million to $20 million per year, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

Although contract negotiations with Tunsil haven't heated up yet as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract with a current $10.35 million base salary for 2020, the Texans have held preliminary discussions about their best offensive lineman. The AFC South champions met with Tunsil's agent, Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency, this week at the NFL scouting combine, according to sources.

The Texans already made a hefty investment of draft capital to land Tunsil via a blockbuster trade with the Dolphins that involved sending away a pair of first-round picks and a second-rounder.

Tunsil, the Texans' first offensive lineman to be named to the Pro Bowl since left tackle Duane Brown in 2014, allowed just three sacks last season and had an 89.9 pass blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus. That ranked him second in the NFL behind Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Tunsil also ranked first in the NFL with 18 penalties with three declined and a dozen false starts.

The Texans want to be proactive about negotiating long-term contract extensions for players like Tunsil, quarterback Deshaun Watson and inside linebacker Zach Cunningham.

Watson, a Pro Bowl selection, is now eligible for a blockbuster long-term contract extension with a price range of $38 million annually under a contract worth at least $190 million. Talks for Watson aren't expected to pick up until later in the offseason. The Chiefs are expected to make quarterback Patrick Mahomes the highest paid player in the league.

"Watson, Tunsil, Cunningham, I would say the sooner we can get some of those deals done the better," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "We want those guys on the football team for a long time. That’s the way I feel about it. Deshaun Watson, we want him here in Houston for his whole career. I love Deshaun Watson, everything that he’s about.

"I would say Laremy and Zach, all those guys, anytime you can solidify your team earlier in someone’s contract, that can be a good thing for your football team. We’re working through all those different things daily.”

Meanwhile, the Texans met with several other representatives for pending unrestricted free agents.

That includes defensive lineman D.J. Reader, running back Carlos Hyde, tight end Darren Fells, long snapper Jon Weeks, kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn, running back Taiwan Jones, linebacker Barkevious Mingo and cornerback Phillip Gaines as well as restricted free agent linebacker Dylan Cole, according to sources.

The market for Reader is expected to be extremely expensive and he would be difficult to retain if he hits free agency with a market of $11 million to $13 million in average annual compensation anticipated and multiple NFL teams interested in the 6-3, 347-pound former Clemson standout, according to sources.

"D.J. Reader has been a really good player for us," O'Brien said. "We’re in the process of talking to a lot of different players for us that are headed into free agency. Hopefully, we’re able to keep as many people as we can.”