Patriots 2020 player profile and outlook: LG Joe Thuney
There’s still a chance he gets traded before the season begins, but if he doesn’t, Joe Thuney will be the starting left guard for the Patriots in 2020.
Is Joe Thuney the best offensive lineman on the New England Patriots?
There’s a very good argument to support that assertion.
Thuney was taken in the third round of the NFL Draft out of NC State back in 2016. He immediately was inserted to the starting lineup and he immediately flourished, playing in all 19 games that season and winning a Super Bowl ring. Shockingly, he played the highest snaps of any Patriot that year — and he was just 24 at the time.
Thuney played in another 19 games in 2017 … and then another 19 games in 2018. He became the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in his first three seasons.
While Thuney and the Pats didn’t make the Super Bowl for a fourth consecutive time in 2019, they still posted a winning record and made the playoffs. Once again, the iron man played in every single game he could — all 17 of them last year.
Many thought Thuney would hit free agency this past spring and get scooped up immediately as the highest-rated offensive guard expected to become available.
The Patriots threw a wrench in those expectations though when they shockingly placed Thuney on the franchise tag (which he lated signed). It’s been five years since Bill Belichick last elected to use the tag on a player (he did so with Stephen Gostkowski in 2015).
Will the Patriots try to flip Thuney? It’s possible still, but increasingly unlikely.
Even though New England is extremely cash-strapped and tight against the cap, it seems like they plan on going into the regular season paying Thuney almost $15 to play on the tag.
Hopefully, the two sides can come to some sort of long-term agreement next spring, as he’s certainly an important piece to this team’s future — and one heck of a player.
Best-case scenario projection for 2020
Thuney goes a fifth straight season without missing a game. His incredible iron man streak continues.
He also continues his hot streak of extremely rarely giving up sacks or committing holding penalties. His high level of play extends another year, and he’s rewarded with a Pro Bowl nod for his efforts.
New England offers him a contract extension that’s befitting a player of his caliber but that also doesn’t break the bank. Thuney accepts. The future remains bright for this marriage in 2021 and beyond!
Worst-case scenario projection for 2020
A likely worst-case scenario — for the Patriots — is that Thuney plays another full season for the team and is again arguably New England’s best offensive lineman. He demands more money than the Pats are willing to give him and he signs a lucrative deal elsewhere.
As for Thuney personally, the worst-case scenario I can imagine is injury.
Next. Take a look at our 2020 projection for David Andrews. dark
Even though he’s shown no cause for concern yet in the NFL — and his durability is probably the safest bet on the roster at this point — it would still torpedo his leverage looking at free agency next spring should he unexpectedly suffer a serious injury in 2020.