Patriots likely to lose both Joe Thuney and Ted Karras in free agency
Two of the New England Patriots’ most valuable offensive linemen — Joe Thuney and Ted Karras — are creating quite a buzz amongst other NFL teams already.
Things are looking bleak for the New England Patriots these days.
As the team seems closer and closer to potentially losing their grip on Tom Brady remaining QB1 in 2020, other free agents on the team are garnering major interest around the league already — and there’s still more than two weeks to go before free agency even begins.
First it was wide receiver Phillip Dorsett who was drawing interest from other NFL franchises during the combine, with several teams reportedly setting up meetings with his representation this week in Indianapolis.
Now, it appears that two of the Patriots’ most valuable offensive linemen — Joe Thuney and Ted Karras — are the hottest commodities out there in the early rumors and rumblings of free agency (at least as far as O-line men are concerned).
According to Sports Illustrated’s Devon Clements, at least 20 different teams have already set up meetings with Thuney. That’s a staggering amount of interest for the traditionally-reserved and soft-spoken left guard.
It also all but guarantees what many Pats fans have feared for months now: that Thuney is a virtual lock to leave for a massive payday somewhere else this spring. He’s certainly earned that right and that opportunity through his play — he never gets hurt, he never gets penalized, and he never gives up sacks.
In short, he’s the perfect left guard. And as such, the Patriots were fortunate to have him under contract as long as they did.
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Clements pointed out that Thuney’s teammate, backup center Ted Karras, also seems to be commanding a lot of interest around the league thus far.
Though Karras doesn’t have quite as high a profile as Thuney does in the NFL, he’s still considered a rock-solid option at center. Karras subbed for the sideline-ridden David Andrews throughout all of the 2019 season and played excellently.