Joe Thuney

LG Joe Thuney is expected play under the franchise tag for the Patriots.

Fantasy Impact

Thuney is set to make $14.78 million and will be a free agent next season. He is considered one of the best interior lineman in the NFL and is looking to secure a long-term deal. The Patriots and Thuney were reportedly not close to an extension when contract talks began during the off-season. The former former 2016 third-round pick is a vital piece of the Patriots’ offensive line.

Mike Reiss of ESPN reports that G Joe Thuney and the Patriots are “not close on a deal.”

Fantasy Impact

Thuney got the franchise tag from New England, which will pay him $14.78M in 2020. That’s a large cap hit for a team that needs to free up some space, and the Patriots could do that by agreeing to a long-term deal with the All-Pro guard. But according to Reiss, the two sides aren’t close, which could lead to a trade this week ahead of the Draft. A trade could also be completed immediately, as Thuney has already signed his franchise tender.

The New England Patriots are placing the franchise tag on offensive guard Joe Thueny, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Fantasy Impact

This move is a surprising one, but this allows the Patriots to attempt to receive draft pick compensation from a team in exchange for Thuney while also preventing him from signing with a division rival like the New York Jets, who had been rumored to have interest.