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Joe Thuney to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency isn’t an idea only held by fans of the team that desperately needs to protect quarterback Joe Burrow.
In fact, experts have been all over the idea since last offseason when the New England Patriots hit one of the NFL’s best guards with the franchise tag.
While updating projected free-agency landing spots for the market’s best names, Pro Football Focus again sends Thuney (13th overall out of 50) to the Bengals.
Anthony Treash noted the following:
“They have the cap space to make a massive move in free agency to address that fact, and Thuney — who grew up just outside the Cincinnati area — could well be that big signing. Thuney ranks sixth among left guards in PFF grade since entering the league in 2016. He also has never ranked lower than 13th in a single season among all guards in WAR generated.”
Of note, these projections also send William Jackson and Carl Lawson back to the Bengals, too — a realistic outcome given the production of those players, premium nature of what they do and the ample cap space available.
On the Thuney front, ESPN has also argued it is one of the best possible moves the Bengals could make in free agency. We’ve likewise noted the Bengals could pull a shocker like they did last year with D.J. Reader by signing Thuney.
Thuney and the Bengals seem like one of free agency’s most obvious fits, provided the front office is willing to throw its weight around in cash. Landing an elite guard would potentially open up the draft too and go a long way toward assuring the franchise quarterback on a reconstructed knee stays on the field.
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