Was It A Mistake To Not Trade For Joe Thuney (Poll)?

[Since1960]

Answer is no.

Will need to spend draft picks trying to find Thuney’s successor, starting right away. He’s already long in the tooth. At best maybe good for another two to three years before his level of play declines too much to make him worth what this would cost.

I’ff take 2-4 years of Thuney ti any of the “young” Patriots guards..

 

[n1997y]

I’ff take 2-4 years of Thuney ti any of the “young” Patriots guards..

You’re thinking vintage Thuney.

But he’s well past his best-by date, and getting farther past it with every snap.

 

[Since1960]

You’re thinking vintage Thuney.

But he’s well past his best-by date, and getting farther past it with every snap.

You’re probably correct but I still dont see a Patriots current gustds that is better or eill be ovrt the next 2 years.

 

[Tunescribe]

I would agree with it was a mistake to let Thuney go; but 3 years later ….trading draft capital to get an aging vet/ former Pat back???

So, I voted wait & see.

And: There is so much more than just Thuney difference between 2024 -2025 versions of queefs & bears. Plus preseason rankings are so full of sheet/unjustified expectations anyway.

I said at the time years ago they should have restructured him early. This team used to have perennial stalwarts on the OL, but then BB got in the habit of letting proven veterans walk 'til it became an annual game of musical chairs. Now, it appears the only lasting solution will be via the draft, then holding onto them.

 

[bresna]

I said at the time years ago they should have restructured him early. This team used to have perennial stalwarts on the OL, but then BB got in the habit of letting proven veterans walk 'til it became an annual game of musical chairs. Now, it appears the only lasting solution will be via the draft, then holding onto them.

Thuney made it very clear that he wanted to test free agency. He wanted nothing to do with any extensions. In the end, his decision worked very well for him. I would say that he got very sound advice from his agent and he played NFL roulette to perfection.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I wanted pat mekhari in free agency for his versatility and to shore up the interior.

Didn’t think it was a huge miss on him or thuney at the time but the fo like me probably didn’t expect strange’s apparent demise. This has backfired

They tried to sign him but Tampa Bay won out, same thing for Will Fries, who ended up with the Vikings. I think it’s safe to say they will be back in the hunt for offensive linemen next offseason. I think we will see LG in free agency and RT in the draft. The 26’ Draft is loaded at RT.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think that’s a bit short-sighted, because while they do have $60M+ this year left, they basically have no cap space next year. For a rebuilding team, there’s some wisdom in carrying over a decent amount of cap into 2026 so they can still go after some of the top of market/middle market FAs next year.

They will be able to roll over a considerable amount from what they currently have available, and then we will see guys like Duggars, Stephenson, Strange, and possibly Onwenu come off the books. I expect their needs to be much more focused in the next free agency, and the class of free agents isn’t looking that great right now, and will look even worse when the cap goes up again and teams sign their best free agents to new deals. However the draft will be strong for some of their needs, such as right tackle and edge prospects.

 

[State]

They tried to sign him but Tampa Bay won out

The millionaires' tax, which punishes athletes, is an impediment to bringing in talent. Massachusetts can't compete with climate and the party culture with places like Miami, Nashville, Houston, etc.

There will never be another Patriots SB until this is repealed. Salary cap in the nfl is a real thing.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

They tried to sign him but Tampa Bay won out, same thing for Will Fries, who ended up with the Vikings. I think it’s safe to say they will be back in the hunt for offensive linemen next offseason. I think we will see LG in free agency and RT in the draft. The 26’ Draft is loaded at RT.

If we’re able to complete the OL rebuild in 2 years ill be happy considering where we were in February. Didn’t know we were in on mekhari and just got outbid, bummer

 

[Ross12]

They will be able to roll over a considerable amount from what they currently have available, and then we will see guys like Duggars, Stephenson, Strange, and possibly Onwenu come off the books. I expect their needs to be much more focused in the next free agency, and the class of free agents isn’t looking that great right now, and will look even worse when the cap goes up again and teams sign their best free agents to new deals. However the draft will be strong for some of their needs, such as right tackle and edge prospects.

Not the best FA crop, as is often the case these days, but some positions almost always have at least a few decent options such as guard. I think they’ll sign a couple linemen for sure, and if any solid talent on the DL comes available they will be in on that too. Otherwise it’s definitely more focus on the draft.

 

[Huckleberry1]

If we’re able to complete the OL rebuild in 2 years ill be happy considering where we were in February. Didn’t know we were in on mekhari and just got outbid, bummer

I agree. And I definitely think they can finish the OL rebuild in another offseason, although that will probably require them to restructure Onwenu’s deal instead of releasing him. Right tackle can definitely be addressed in the draft, especially since teams really don’t like to use first round picks on right tackles, guards, and centers. You will usually see the top players at these positions go off the board in the first round, but the Patriots will be able to get an excellent RT prospect with their first pick, and there are always top guards and centers available on Day Two. So if they have 3 positions filled with Campbell, Wilson, and Onwenu then they should have little to no problem filling filling left guard and right tackle in free agency and the draft.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Not the best FA crop, as is often the case these days, but some positions almost always have at least a few decent options such as guard. I think they’ll sign a couple linemen for sure, and if any solid talent on the DL comes available they will be in on that too. Otherwise it’s definitely more focus on the draft.

Their #1 priority going into next offseason is going to be locking up Christian Gonzalez long term, so they will be saving a big chunk of $$$ to get that done. After that they can address their most glaring needs coming out of the 25’ season. But I think we have a decent idea of what those will be. That will actually be one of the most interesting things to watch this season, who is stepping up as their long term answers at their positions, and who will need to be replaced to get to the next level?

 

[Tunescribe]

Thuney made it very clear that he wanted to test free agency. He wanted nothing to do with any extensions. In the end, his decision worked very well for him. I would say that he got very sound advice from his agent and he played NFL roulette to perfection.

No, that was AFTER his rookie contract ended and they franchised him. I wanted Thuney restructured into a winning deal way before then. As I said, BB had a bad habit of letting proven veterans walk vs. finding creative ways to retain valuable assets. Thuney would've stayed a Patriot had they simply paid him closer to what he was worth and BB likely would've saved money by doing it early. A third-round draftee in 2016, Thuney was a second-team All Pro for the Patriots in 2019 and was named to New England's All-Dynasty and All-2010s teams.

 

[bresna]

No, that was AFTER his rookie contract ended and they franchised him. I wanted Thuney restructured into a winning deal way before then. As I said, BB had a bad habit of letting proven veterans walk vs. finding creative ways to retain valuable assets. Thuney would've stayed a Patriot had they simply paid him closer to what he was worth and BB likely would've saved money by doing it early. A third-round draftee in 2016, Thuney was a second-team All Pro for the Patriots in 2019 and was named to New England's All-Dynasty and All-2010s teams.

They franchised him because he refused an extension. He said he wanted to be a free agent. They can't make a player sign an extension. He even played out the franchise tag year refusing a new contract for the same reason.

I think the Patriots kept him for as long as they could. If they had kept him under a second franchise tag would have been crazy money for a guard (~$18 Million) and they needed to use that cap space elsewhere.

 

[Tunescribe]

They franchised him because he refused an extension. He said he wanted to be a free agent. They can't make a player sign an extension. He even played out the franchise tag year refusing a new contract for the same reason.

I think the Patriots kept him for as long as they could. If they had kept him under a second franchise tag would have been crazy money for a guard (~$18 Million) and they needed to use that cap space elsewhere.

I'll say it once more (for the third time): the mistake BB made was waiting years too long. A mutually beneficial deal should've been broached much earlier while on his rookie contract. Absent that, he would've remained a Patriot had they ponied up and offered him what he was worth.

 

[n1997y]

I'll say it once more (for the third time): the mistake BB made was waiting years too long. A mutually beneficial deal should've been broached much earlier while on his rookie contract. Absent that, he would've remained a Patriot had they ponied up and offered him what he was worth.

It still takes agreement by the player. If he’s determined to test free agency you may think the contract you proposed is “mutually beneficial” but he may not sign it anyway.

 

[Brick27]

No hard preference either way, but this thread taught me that three consecutive All-Pros and being on the 1st team the last two years as a recent sample is considered falling off and deteriorating. Hopefully can find solutions at LG and elsewhere that don’t have such weak accolades.

 

[Tunescribe]

It still takes agreement by the player. If he’s determined to test free agency you may think the contract you proposed is “mutually beneficial” but he may not sign it anyway.

This begs the question why he wouldn't sign a deal a good as or better than one offered elsewhere in free agency. The reason he became a free agent was because New England low-balled him. But I'm sick of repeating what doesn't seem to be sinking in re., beginning to address his status two or three years into his rookie contract.

 

[bresna]

This begs the question why he wouldn't sign a deal a good as or better than one offered elsewhere in free agency. The reason he became a free agent was because New England low-balled him. But I'm sick of repeating what doesn't seem to be sinking in re., beginning to address his status two or three years into his rookie contract.

Where have you read that the Patriots "low balled him"? Everything I've read is that he wanted to be a free agent, period. Someone who wants to test free agency isn't going to accept anything offered, low or high.

Joe Thuney was the top free agent OL that year and he ended up getting $16 Million/year for the 4 years he was at KC. If he signed an extension with NE a year earlier, as you've noted, he would not have gotten as much. On top of that, he won 2 Super Bowls with the Chiefs instead of playing on a crappy Patriots team, unless you're implying that an All Pro guard would have changed that.

Look, Thuney received good financial advice from his agent and it worked. Most top players get one shot at a big contract and it's more lucrative the earlier in your career you can get it. He's going to end up making $118 Million with the chance at $134 Million if the Bears keep him for 2027, which is highly unlikely. That's pretty impressive for a guard.

 

[Wozzy]

Cutting Jake Andrews before a single snap of practice this preseason was the mistake… if nothing else he’d be another quality interior player.