Here’s What NFL Franchise Tag Deadline Passing Means For Patriots, Joe Thuney

The New England Patriots will have Joe Thuney on the field, and he will play on the franchise tag. Thuney and the Patriots didn’t reach a long-term agreement before the NFL’s 4 p.m. deadline Wednesday. In other words, Thuney will play out the one-year, fully guaranteed deal.

Thuney will earn $14.78 million in the upcoming season. The player signed a franchise tender March 19 after New England decided to apply the tag.

NFL Media’s Mike Giardi reported that both sides were “all quiet” Wednesday morning. So, what does this mean?

The 2019 second-team All-Pro will carry the Patriots’ second-highest salary cap hit right behind cornerback star Stephon Gilmore. Two of the team’s five highest-paid players are guards. Three of the five players are offensive linemen. Right guard Shaq Mason has a 48.7 million cap hit and he ranks fifth on the list. Right tackle Marcus Cannon ranks fourth with $8.9 million. As you may have noticed, that’s a lot of money.

Joe Thuney has a big role with the Patriots

Is there a financial-related positive for the team? Thuney’s cap hit limited the team this offseason. The Patriots settled compensation grievances with Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez. This gave the team the needed cap space. Head coach Bill Belichick will have a chance to make a few other moves. Maybe these moves will happen in the next few months.

Thuney is 27, and the Patriots selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has a key role in the Patriots offense. Thuney has been as consistent as they come. He was a starter in all 64 games and played 99 percent of snaps each season. Thuney gave the Patriots flexibility on the line. He had the versatility to play two or more positions. We saw him play under center, left guard, and even tackle. Belichick needs this versatility for the upcoming season.

The Patriots will need Thuney’s talent to enter the challenging season. The team lost a few valuable players this offseason. How will they handle this pressure in 2020? Belichick is ready for the challenge and so are his players. 2020 will be an awesome season for the Pats.