The New England Patriots and fourth-year veteran guard Joe Thuney are working on a long-term deal following the AFC East club's franchise tag move this offseason. However, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the Patriots and the two-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman are not close yet on an extension.
Per Reiss, the 27-year-old guard's salary cap figure is approximately $14.78 million—a high number for the elite status of the franchise tag. Due to Thuney's current contract and possibly as the two sides are far apart on a new deal, the All-Pro Second Team offensive lineman is also a candidate to be dealt for draft compensation by the Patriots.
If a guard-needy team is willing to deal a second- or high third-rounder to help fill in the Patriots' draft board, that would have to be something Belichick seriously considers with the knowledge that the sides haven't been close to an extension. Thuney holds notable leverage because of the high franchise-tag figure.
Given the serious change this spring for the ever-constant Patriots—you know, that one at quarterback—New England has shifted direction and attention for the 2020 NFL Draft, with a rookie signal-caller all-but-likely a target in the few two days of the now-virtual draft. The Patriots have veteran Brian Hoyer and rising sophomore Jarrett Stidham on the gunslinger depth chart.
The Patriots appear to monitoring whether a projected early-first-round quarterback like Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon's Justin Herbert slide back in the draft so they can jump up or stay put and select one or them or another.
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