Patriots’ Biggest Weakness Can Be Traced Back To Exit Of Chiefs All-Pro
Maybe it wasn’t just Tom Brady?
The demise of the Patriots has been traced back to the legendary quarterback leaving New England for Tampa Bay in March 2020. But the franchise suffered another key departure the following offseason when offensive lineman Joe Thuney was allowed to walk in free agency.
Which exit created a larger void in New England? (No, that’s absolutely not to be taken seriously.)
It’s not a stretch to say New England’s offensive slide is a product of Thuney’s departure, though. The Patriots offensive line hasn’t been as good since Thuney left and took a massive step backward the last two campaigns. It was the biggest weakness on the 2023 and 2024 squads. Imagine if Bill Belichick never allowed the Thuney to depart Foxboro, Mass.?
“Bill let me have Joe Thuney, so I appreciated that,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said with a laugh when he appeared on the “Lets Go” podcast last week.
Thuney played five seasons in New England (2016-2020). He won a pair of Super Bowls with the Patriots and was a Second Team All-Pro in 2019. He was as reliable as anyone (80 starts in 80 games). Thuney played the 2020 campaign on the Patriots franchise tag after concluding his rookie contract, but Belichick and company couldn’t come to terms on a long-term deal.
Thuney signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs entering the 2021 campaign — a deal that has looked like a steal. Thirty-six linemen have a higher average annual value than Thuney. He was named a First Team All-Pro each of the last two seasons with a Second Team nod in his second campaign in KC.
He’s even moved to left tackle after the combination of Chiefs rookie Kingsley Suamataia, second-year tackle Wanya Morris and veteran D.J. Humphries struggled to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side in 2024. Kansas City allowed 2.7 sacks per game in Weeks 1-14, but since moving Thuney to left tackle in Week 15 the group has allowed 1.8 per game, per NFL.com.
Must be nice to have a versatile veteran like Thuney right, Patriots fans?
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Thuney’s exit was the first of three key changes up front at the end of Belichick’s tenure.
Tedd Karras, who provided interior depth with five of his first six seasons with the Patriots, signed a three-year, $18 million deal with the Bengals at the start of 2022 free agency. Shaq Mason, who played his first seven seasons in New England, was traded to Tampa Bay for a modest fifth-round pick the following day. Cole Strange was overdrafted in the first round some three months later.
The Patriots have used 12 draft picks on offensive linemen since Thuney’s final season in New England — 2020 sixth-rounder Michael Onwenu, 2020 sixth-rounder Justin Herron, 2020 seven-rounder Dustin Woodard, 2021 sixth-rounder William Sherman, Strange, 2022 sixth-rounder Chasen Hines, 2022 seventh-rounder Andrew Stueber, 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Andrews, 2023 fourth-rounder Sidy Sow, 2023 fifth-rounder Antonio Mafi, 2024 third-rounder Caedan Wallace and 2024 fourth-rounder Layden Robinson.
Onwenu agreed to a long-term extension with the Patriots, but he might be the only one who sticks around long-term. That’s less than a 10% hit rate.
If only the Patriots still had Thuney, who’s going for his third ring with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.