The NFL world was sent a shockwave on Wednesday morning when it was reported that the Kansas City Chiefs were trading Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. On the heels of three straight Super Bowl appearances where Thuney made Pro Bowl and All-Pro in each season, the Chiefs preferred getting younger and cheaper by moving on from one of their best players.
Almost as surprising as the decision to move Thuney was how little it took for the Bears to get him. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Chicago would send a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs. This begs the question of why the Patriots weren't interested in bringing back their former starter.
Compensation update; Bears are trading a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for Pro-Bowl OL Joe Thuney, per source. https://t.co/QAcfND57By
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2025
Patriots Made a Big Mistake by Not Trading for G Joe Thuney
The Patriots certainly have the resources to beat Chicago's offer. Giving up a third-round pick for one of the best offensive linemen in the league would have certainly been worth it. The enhanced protection for Drake Maye would go a long way toward letting the hopeful franchise quarterback take his play to the next level.
Plus, the Patriots have more cap space than they know what to do with. Taking on Thuney's one-year, $16 million deal for next season would have been completely fine.
After spending most of his career at left guard, Thuney switched to left tackle mid-season in 2024. He stepped up admirably and was still one of the best players for the Chiefs in his age-32 season. Plus, he hasn't missed a game over the last two years and had his highest PFF grade of the last three years.
Plus, Thuney has a ton of familiarity with the organization, having won two Super Bowls in his five seasons in New England. He was a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and never missed a game throughout his Patriots career before signing a five-year, $80 million deal with the Chiefs in the 2021 offseason.
Bringing in a proven winner and a competent veteran who is still playing at an All-Pro level would have been the perfect move for a team looking for offensive line help. Instead, the Patriots will likely turn their attention to the free agent market for reinforcements.