This Is Believeland Podcast Episode 39: Mike D’Abate of Locked On Patriots and Full Press Coverage comes on to discuss Cam Newton, Joe Thuney, concerns about the NFL season starting and finishing, possible new names for the Washington Football Team, and the impact of the long term deals in Tennessee for Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill.
Free agent guard Joe Thuney should interest the Cleveland Browns. The Centerville, Ohio native has spent the first four years of his career with the New England Patriots. With the Browns in need of a guard they should at least explore the option of adding Thuney.
For those analytically minded Joe Thuney grades out at 77.4 according to Pro Football Focus. That should help ease the minds of those concerned with finding value in a player that will make quite a bit of money.
The 27-year old guard is yet to miss a game in his career. If there is a time to invest in an offensive lineman it is on this side of 30. Thuney is going to command a fairly large contract and luckily Cleveland can afford it.
Thuney has been a left guard in New England and would have to switch to right guard due to the presence of Joel Bitonio. This would provide a solid group of interior offensive lineman to protect Baker Mayfield. Bitonio, Thuney and JC Tretter would be a great start to building up an offensive line desperately in need of help.
Adding Joe Thuney would also make taking two tackles in the draft more of a possibility. Having veteran guards next to two rookie tackles should be able to help them adjust to the NFL game.
If Cleveland stays with Wyatt Teller at right guard they may be better off signing a tackle in free agency and only drafting one instead of two. It’s all about putting together a competent and experienced group in front of Baker Mayfield. To properly achieve this Cleveland needs to sign a veteran at one of the offensive line positions. Joe Thuney is definitely an option worth considering for the Cleveland Browns.
The Cleveland Browns are certainly aware of their issues on the offensive line. In addition to having Jack Conklin on their radar, three others are now in the mix. New England’s Joe Thuney, Green Bay’s Bryan Bulaga, and Washington’s Brandon Scherff.
This point towards two things.
This is good. Cleveland has identified that Hubbard is expensive and replaceable and that they can find a better option than Teller at right guard.
Joe Thuney and Brandon Scherff are both guards. By process of elimination that means Teller is the odd man out. Joel Bitonio is a stud at left guard and is not in any danger of being replaced. Bryan Bulaga is a right tackle which means Hubbard is expendable.
Offensive lineman in free agency are usually a gamble, but two important things worth mentioning in regards to this gamble and the state of the Cleveland Browns.
If the Browns have any hope of making Kevin Stefanski’s offense work they need to have competent lineman. Currently they have two in Bitonio and JC Tretter. If Cleveland signs two lineman (one guard and one tackle) in free agency that leaves them in need of only tackle in the draft. It also opens up their options with the 10th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. This could pave the way to the team taking best player available regardless of position and not limit themselves to the option of left tackle. This could make the possibility of selecting Isaiah Simmons 10th overall more of a reality than a fantasy.
