New England Patriots
AFC East on AFC East crime?
Joe Thuney will spend the 2020 season with the New England Patriots under the franchise tag. The offensive lineman had until last Wednesday to come to a long-term agreement and didn’t. He now could be in-line to be one of the most-coveted free agents next offseason. The Patriots will pay nearly $15 million for his services in 2020.
Evidently the Pats were fine with doing so because of another divisional team: The Jets. Because of Gang Green’s interest in adding the 27-year-old, the Patriots kept him off the free agent market and trade block, according to NFL.com.
Per Gregg Rosenthal:
There is some belief that the Jets’ reported interest in Thuney helped inspire Bill Belichick to keep him off the market. It will be harder to do again in 2021, especially considering Belichick’s history of not paying interior linemen top dollar. Thuney’s tag-team partner at guard, Shaq Mason, signed a below-market deal in 2018, which could complicate any negotiations with Thuney. Like many Patriots over the years, Thuney will probably have to leave to max out his money.