Well, this is interesting.
According to multiple reports, including agent Mike McCartney, the Patriots are going to place the franchise tag on Joe Thuney. The franchise figure for offensive linemen is around $15 million.
Thuney was going to be one of the best offensive linemen on the open market.
Given the Patriots' cap space situation, this is a big chunk of money, and could impact their other moves. It also doesn't mean this will be his figure for the season, as there's always the chance the team can negotiate with him in the coming months on a long-term deal.
[UPDATE 2 p.m.]: The Patriots made it official and included a statement saying they hope to reach a long-term agreement with Thuney. "Joe has been a model teammate and an essential element to our success since joining our team in 2016," the statement reads. "Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach the goal of a long-term agreement."
It's also worth noting the team could potentially trade Thuney, too. They have done sign-and-trade deals in the past, including players on the franchise tag.
When made official, it would be the first time the team has used the tag since 2015.
