Joe Thuney might be the best all-around offensive lineman on the open market and is about to receive a hefty payday. The two-time Super Bowl champion is synonymous with durability, reliable play and has improved each and every year he’s been in the league. Most teams would love to add a player like Thuney, but only a handful of teams actually have the resources to bring him in.
2020 Free Agency Team Fits: Joe Thuney
New York Jets
Sam Darnold’s 2019 was one of the strangest seasons in recent memory. Between the first-year head coach, poor offensive line, and the infamous battle with mono, it’s hard to get a true read of the former third-overall pick. Darnold put together plenty of inspiring moments, and building a solid offensive line could be the key to unlocking his full potential.
New York’s offensive line was an absolute mess last year. According to Football Outsiders, the unit ranked 31st in adjusted line yards and 30th in adjusted sack rate. Thuney can’t singlehandedly fix everything, but he’s a great building piece. Additionally, Thuney can also help open some much-needed rushing lanes for Le’Veon Bell.
Arizona Cardinals
Much like the Jets, the Arizona Cardinals need to do something to help their young quarterback. Kyler Murray earned Rookie of the Year honors after helping Arizona’s offense make dramatic improvements in 2019. However, the Cardinals still have a long way to go before they’re ready to be true contenders. Arizona entered 2019 with concerns on the offensive line, and the season did nothing to mitigate those concerns. Murray led the league with 48 sacks, and Football Outsiders had Arizona as the 26th-best pass-blocking offensive line in football.
Murray invites plenty of sacks due to his tendency to hold the ball, but Arizona still needs to do a better job of protecting their quarterback. Thuney would represent an immediate upgrade at the position and his history in New England’s up-tempo offense makes him a good fit with Kliff Kingsbury. Armed with over $51.5 million in cap space, the Cardinals have the financial resources to invest in one of the best offensive linemen on the market.
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins have a chance to outspend everyone in a potential Joe Thuney bidding war. According to Spotrac, the Redskins currently have the highest projected cap space in the league ($93.1 million). The Redskins have needs all across the roster, so they might not want to invest considerable resources in a guard. That said, one could argue there is nothing more important than providing protection for a young quarterback. Dwayne Haskins got off to a horrendous start but actually had a respectable close to the season. Bringing in Thuney and getting Trent Williams back on the field could actually turn Washington’s offensive line into a league-average or above unit.
New England Patriots
The Patriots don’t have that much financial flexibility, and they aren’t exactly known for paying top dollar in free agency. However, New England might just buck the trend and pay up to bring back Joe Thuney. The Patriots will either have 43-year old Tom Brady or an untested Jarrett Stidham starting in 2020, which means they need all the protection they can get. Dante Scarnecchia is retired, which means the Patriots can’t just magically turn street free agents into All-Pros anymore. Bringing back Thuney might mean saying goodbye to someone like Kyle Van Noy, but that’s the price of doing business.
Honorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals
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