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Patriots: Biggest draft steal of every year of the past decade

By Adam Weinrib

James White #28 of the New England Patriots kneels on the sideline prior to the game against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
James White #28 of the New England Patriots kneels on the sideline prior to the game against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on October 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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Joe Thuney #62 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

2016 Patriots Draft Steal: Joe Thuney

Now this is more like it.

Docked a first-round pick due to Tom Brady having the audacity to throw a football that had been affected by cold weather, New England still managed to find Joe Thuney, Jacoby Brissett, Malcolm Mitchell and Elandon Roberts in this bottom-heavy draft where the wealth was well-distributed.

For obvious reasons, Thuney takes the cake here as a third-round guard out of NC State who became indispensable on this line for several years — until it came time to give him a new deal and 2020 draft steal Michael Onwenu had emerged.

We hope Thuney enjoys his time in (shudder) Kansas City, but objectively this was a fantastic pick while it lasted for a Pats team needing to reinforce a contender without a top pick. A Day 1 starter to follow directly behind Logan Mankins, leaving nary a blip in New England’s offensive line continuity? No wonder this miracle season was capped by a 28-3 comeback unlike any other.

Even when the league is conspiring against us, we still find and coach up Thuneys. Not bad.

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