Losing Joe Thuney was certainly a major loss for the New England Patriots. He was their best offensive lineman, a top player, no doubt. But with the situation they’re in with their offensive line, it wasn’t a great loss. Here’s why.
First, Thuney’s contract in 2020 on a franchise tag was about $14 million. That’s offensive left tackle money. He’d have received upwards of $16 million in 2021 had the Patriots decided to franchise him again. They didn’t. And they shouldn’t have.
That sum, $16 million which is what the Kansas City Chiefs paid him in free agency is an enormous sum for a guard, anytime, anyplace, especially in New England.
Why is that?
First, New England is already paying right guard Shaq Mason more than $9.5 million to play guard. While this author is “one to talk about” inflated offensive line salaries, having on more than one occasion stated that this unit is the most important unit on the entire squad, it’s still true.
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Guards are probably the most replaceable elements on any offensive line. They are important, but their importance pales in comparison to first, the offensive left tackle. Then the offensive center. Then, the offensive right tackle. Then fall the guards.
Why the New England Patriots won’t miss Thuney much
Now, you don’t want to have lousy guards. Let’s make that perfectly clear. But let’s face it, they have help, lot’s of it.
First. inside, they often have the center helping out in blocking schemes. Then, on the outside, they have first, the best tackle on the left side and then the right tackle, who also has help much of the time on the strong side with a good blocking tight end. Hello Jonnu Smith!
Yet, if you do have outstanding guards as the Patriots have had in the past four years with Thuney and Mason, if you have talent on their flanks, you are in very good shape, indeed. If, you have a top quarterback at the helm and good-skill players on the flanks.
New England had a good quarterback last season to go along with these really good guards, but little else. Ergo, a 7-9 record. This author has flapped on about how this responsibility shouldn’t be laid at Cam Newton’s door, and someone feels the same in Foxborough, evidently.
The majordomo of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick has opened Bob Kraft’s wallet and already brought in four new skill players who hopefully can catch the ball thrown by their still very competent quarterback, Cam Newton.
First, how the New England Patriots current offensive line will protect the quarterback
It seems clear that New England Patriots would like to have kept Joe Thuney on their offensive line. But at what cost? Evidently, five years at $80M was too high for their wallet. They made the right decision. Here’s why.
An offensive line is or should be a cohesive organism for doing two things, protecting the highly valued quarterback and opening running lanes for the team’s backs.
At or near the top of New England’s offseason activities this far is the trade for Trent Brown. As this author has written before, Brown was an underrated and integral part of the Super Bowl-winning team in 2018, whether his contribution was acknowledged or not. Watch the films.
This single move may be the best that the New England Patriots make in the entire offseason. They botched things when they let Brown leave in free agency before, and they have rectified that somewhat, by bringing him back now. But that praise has to be qualified.
They only brought him back on a one-year deal and that is short-sighted, once again by the Patriots’ brain trust.
And in addition, they seem to lean toward playing Brown at right tackle, as the Raiders did, rather than at left, obviously, his most beneficial position as demonstrated in 2018. Brown should start at left tackle.
Once again it has to be said that if he does not, it will be a mistake. While Isaiah Wynn is one of the most technically gifted offensive tackles you will ever see, he is very small for the left tackle position (or the right for that matter) and prone to injury. Play him on the right.
The open position is at left guard to replace Thuney. A big hole to fill but a big man to fill it. That would be the 2020 best draft pick and best player, Michael Onwenu.
Onwenu can slide into the left guard position seamlessly and the loss will be minimal if anything at all. He’s that good.
Meanwhile, Wynn can move over to right tackle, have protection on the strong side with a top tight end for a change, like Jonnu Smith or Hunter Henry playing beside him, and excel. And hopefully, also stay healthy in the process. Seems to make sense.
And, to add to the equation, the patriots have brought back captain, leader, and an all-around great guy and player David Andrews to once again center the line and call the signals.
The line, configured as suggested will be a top-five in the NFL. If they put Brown on the right, it will be less effective, could result in yet another Wynn injury, and will be a top 10 line, perhaps. The choice is clear.
Second, how the New England Patriots will compensate in the running game
Joe Thuney was a top run blocker. Why? Quite simply, he did everything well. And, the cheery on top of the proverbial cake for Thuney was his durability and versatility.
Thuney played in and started every game over five years for the New England Patriots. In addition, he could not only do anything required on an offensive line, but he could also play anywhere on an offensive line, as well.
That’s the opinion here, and he’d be better at any of those positions than all but the very best, as well. That’s the talent this former third-round choice (now that’s a great pick by the New England Patriots) had for the team and will now have in KC.
Musket Fire
So, how do you compensate if you are New England? First, you have to have talent. And fortunately, they do.
Trent Brown wherever he plays is a road-grading tackle. The lanes for the running backs will be clear if he leads the way. Whatever side Brown is on (hopefully the left), the Patriots will run to that side.
Add Michael Onwenu at left guard, and the lanes on that side will be monstrous. So good, that even the current stable of Patriots backs will be able to run through them.
Andrews will do what he always does at center, be one of the very best in every phase of the attack. And at right guard, in Shaq Mason, New England has one of the best run-blocking guards in the business.
What it all adds up to is one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, both in the running game and in pass-blocking. Cam Newton will be all the better for it and so will the Patriots season record.
Play Trent Brown at left tackle and the Patriots will be at least a 10-6 and a playoff team in 2021. That’s a nice jump from 7-9 last season.
Add a super receiver and a top big back in the draft, free agency, or by trade, and it could go to 11 or 12 wins with Cam Newton at quarterback.
Optimistic? Not really. Realistic? Indeed. Solid if not always spectacular additions have been already made to improve the team. And more is to come.
It’s a time of revival, of renewal, and of revitalization for the New England Patriots. While we may not agree with every move, the upshifting of the team’s approach in free agency thus far has to be invigorating for fans of the New England Patriots. And why shouldn’t it be?
We lost the franchise’s standard-bearer last season, and he went on to achieve even more greatness. Yet, thankfully, the home team, the best team has not sulked into inattentiveness.
Instead, it has burst forth to seek to fashion new greatness. And should they select, hopefully, the next great quarterback in this draft, they maybe will even create a new dynasty.
Why not? After all, this is the New England Patriots we’re talking about! Seems like excitement here, I guess.
So, if the rest of free agency, subsequent trades, and a great draft continue with the same assertiveness as the beginning of free agency, why not reach for the stars! It seems appropriate, doesn’t it?