Patriots outbid by Bears in attempt to reunite with former 2016 NFL draft pick, former Chiefs LG Joe Thuney
The New England Patriots did attempt to add a key piece to the offensive line, but fell short. The MMQB's Albert Breer reported on Wednesday that the Patriots called the Chiefs about trading for starting guard Joe Thuney, but weren't willing to meet the asking price. "They talked to the Chiefs about Joe Thuney, obviously they […]
The New England Patriots did attempt to add a key piece to the offensive line, but fell short.
The MMQB's Albert Breer reported on Wednesday that the Patriots called the Chiefs about trading for starting guard Joe Thuney, but weren't willing to meet the asking price.
"They talked to the Chiefs about Joe Thuney, obviously they wouldn't meet their price, which seems a little crazy given their offensive line issues, and the fact that this is a future fourth-round pick," Breer said on NBC Sports Boston. "I would have some questions if it was this year's fourth-round pick because they've only got eight picks and a ton of roster needs to take care of and they need to draft well, and need that margin for error.
"But I am a little surprised they weren't willing to go to that price."
Thuney was ultimately traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2026 4th-round pick.
And Breer provided some more insight into why the Patriots weren't willing to make this trade.
"The Bears are going to take on the contract as is. They're gonna make an effort to extend him, but the fact that it's a $16 million lump sum, one year, he's not signed beyond this year, so who knows what he'll want after this year," Breer explained. "That I think is the biggest question here, is that it addresses the problem for right now, but it doesn't really address the problem for 2026 or 2027 or down the line."
"I think a big part of it would be you'd have him for a single year," he added. "He's not signed past 2025, and it is one lump sum."
