Joe Thuney’s future in New England is anything but certain. The Patriots placed the franchise tag on Monday morning in a surprising move. He will earn just under $15 million on the franchise tag, if he signs it and joins the Patriots. Even though the franchise tag is essentially a one-year deal, there is a chance — and perhaps a very good chance — that he doesn’t actually play on that deal in the coming season.
Thuney is a four-year veteran who has served as a starter in every game since the Patriots drafted him in the third round in 2016. He has been a Pro Bowl caliber starter for the last two seasons, and he has helped the team to three Super Bowl appearances. Here’s how Thuney and the Patriots might proceed.
1. Reach a long-term extension
If Thuney signs his franchise tag, he will quickly drain the little cap space which the Patriots have left. Prior to his deal, they were roughly at $20 million in cap space after signing extensions with safety Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater. Surely, the Patriots would be happy to have Thuney, McCourty and Slater on the roster in 2020.
But perhaps if the Patriots are to retain Thuney, they will want to sign him to an extension, which spreads his cap hit over a few years. That might help New England add more talent beyond retaining their top in-house free agents. Because at this point, his franchise tag leaves the Patriots with just $5 million in cap space, a sum which will prevent most deals of significance.
2. Trade him
The Patriots may have gotten the sense that an AFC East rival was growing interested in signing Thuney. The Dolphins, after all, signed Ereck Flowers to a major deal just a few hours into free agency. And the Jets have no shortage of money to spend this offseason.
Perhaps New England tagged Thuney with the intention of steering him to a team that doesn’t scare the Patriots. Last season, we saw three players (Dee Ford, Frank Clark and Jadeveon Clowney) get traded on the franchise tag. The Patriots could easily get a decent return for a player like Thuney. Keep in mind that New England would have gotten a third-round compensatory pick for Thuney, had he left in free agency. That is, at the very least, where the Patriots’ asking price will start.
3. Ride out the franchise tag for one year
Perhaps Brady is not coming back to the Patriots. That would certainly help the Patriots if they want to keep Thuney but cannot get him on a long-term deal. Thuney would help the team protect whoever takes over at quarterback in 2020, whether it be Jarrett Stidham, a free agent or a trade target. If Brady is gone, then maybe the Patriots will be committed to Thuney, no matter the cost in 2020.
[vertical-gallery id=82083]