In this week’s edition of the NFL Notebook, we get a glimpse of N’Keal Harry’s hidden talent, catch up with a former New England coach at his new gig, and find out the date for this year’s ring ceremony. But first, we tell you why Joe Thuney is on the verge of the biggest year of his career, and what that means for the veteran offensive lineman — and the Patriots.
1. Joe Thuney isn’t the sort of guy who needs to hype his own skills. The soft-spoken offensive lineman is notoriously uncomfortable when it comes to discussing his accomplishments. But his teammates will tell you he was absolutely one of the most important parts of the New England offense in 2018. Last year, the left guard was the one guy on the offense to play every snap. He’s proven himself to be equally adept at run and pass blocking, and was a sizable reason why Aaron Donald had had a bad outing in Super Bowl LIII.
Now, Thuney is heading into 2019 as one of the most compelling — and important — figures on the roster. It’s the last year of his rookie contract, and barring something unforeseen between now and next offseason, he is facing a big payday. Does he deserve the same sort of deal fellow guard Shaq Mason got last year, one that included $23.5 million guaranteed? That’s a possibility. Check out this list of the top deals for left guards across the league for a point of reference when it comes to Thuney.
“I’m just focused on what I can control,” Thuney said earlier this spring when asked about his future. “I’m just focused on being here. I love New England. It’s been awesome here. Just trying to improve, get better and get ready for the season.”
But the sight of him at left tackle during the first open OTA session — and the Patriots’ uncertain status when it comes to tackle depth — got us wondering about the scenario where he could actually get more when it comes to a new deal. Frankly, if he ends up playing significant snaps at left tackle in 2019, that could increase his value even more. Not just from a practical standpoint (tackles are generally rated as more valuable than guards), but from a versatility perspective as well. (We haven’t even mentioned the fact that if Isaiah Wynn is able to go, he would be the fourth different left tackle to line up next to Thuney in four years.) What would the market be for a sturdy, dependable offensive lineman with three Super Bowl rings in the prime of his career like Thuney who can play both guard and tackle? The truth of the matter is Mason’s contract could very well be a starting point for someone like Thuney.
When it comes to the possibility of him agreeing to move at the start of a contract year, it’s worth mentioning we’ve seen guys around here do it before: Trey Flowers did it last season, enjoyed a huge 2018, and cashed in big when it was all said and done. Is Thuney capable of the same sort of leap — and the same sort of payday as a result? We’ll know sooner rather than later. At the very least, he seems well-positioned to quietly head into the biggest year of his professional career secure in the knowledge that as long as he stays healthy, he’s going to get paid by someone.
2. Great to see Pepper Johnson back in professional football. The former New England assistant — who was with the Patriots from 2000 through 2013 — was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Los Angeles entry into the XFL. In an interview with Boston Sports Journal last September, Johnson said he was ready to return to the game, and now, he’ll be a part of Winston Moss’ staff in Los Angeles. The latest version of the XFL is set to kick off in eight cities in 2020 — Johnson is the most notable ex-Patriot (player or coach) to land with the new league.
Most consecutive seasons with multiple interceptions (active streaks):
Chris Harris Jr. 7
Stephon Gilmore 6
Janoris Jenkins 5
Darius Slay 5
Micah Hyde 5
Mike Adams 5@Broncos @ChrisHarrisJr https://t.co/XQEpAIzjxZ
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) May 29, 2019
