In part 2 of the Broncos’ free agent forecast, a look at guard Joe Thuney:
Are the Broncos willing to spend gigantic money next week to find elusive stability at right guard?
left guard Joe Thuney could be headed to the top of his position’s salary chart and would solve the Broncos’ interior offensive line issue.
In March 2017, the Broncos signed to a four-year, $36 million contract ($20 million guaranteed). Shuttling between left and right guard, he missed 19 games in three years (back, Achilles and head injuries) and his option will not be picked up.
If center ’s asking price is too high, the Broncos could turn to Thuney, move him to right guard and then draft a center.
Thuney is in position to strike it rich. The first player in NFL history to start a in his first three years, Thuney was second-team All Pro in 2019. Spotrac projects his next contract to be five years and $69.8 million — the $13.9 million average would slot as the third-highest in the league for a guard, behind Philadelphia’ Brandon Brooks ($14.09 million) and Dallas’ Zack Martin ($14 million).
About Thuney
Age: 27.
Height/weight: 6-foot-5/308 pounds.
Background: Played 41 games for North Carolina State, making starts at every offensive position but center. Didn’t allow sack at left tackle as senior. … A third-round draft pick (No. 78 overall) by New England in 2016. … Injuries to other players in ’16 training camp allowed Thuney to seize the left guard spot. … In four years, started all 64 regular season and 10 playoff games. … Has been called for only 11 regular season penalties.
Games watched: Week 14 vs. Kansas City (23-17 loss), Week 16 vs. Buffalo (24-17 win) and wild card round vs. Tennessee (20-13 loss).
Game notes
Kansas City: The pluses — athleticism to be pulling guard, quickly reaches second level to block linebacker, good base to combat bull rush and stays on feet. The minuses — nothing noticeable. … On second-and-8 play, fanned left to right to stop pass rusher Alex Okafor coming off edge. … Matched up against elite defensive tackle Chris Jones on about six snaps and didn’t have a minus play. … Allowed a coverage hit of by Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Buffalo: Showed good awareness and understanding of angles by getting in way of linebackers. … An example — on a screen, shielded off defensive lineman Corey Liuget, allowing to gain 18 yards before fumbling. … Reached second level to block linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on nine-yard run gain. … On a third down pass play, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips pushed him back, but he re-grouped to force Phillips to detour away from hitting Brady. … Phillips later got inside position for a hit on Brady. … On several plays, pulled from left to right on play-action to pass protect.
Tennessee: Played all 61 snaps and charted for only 1 1/2 minus plays. … On early-game screen that gained 29 yards, got down field and wiped out safety Kenny Vaccaro. … Pulled from left to right and sealed off linebacker Kamalei Correa for nine-yard rush. … Against perennial defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, blocked him inside to free up Sony Michel for 25-yard rush. … Showed good recovery ability on an 11-yard rush when he pulled left and initially over-ran linebacker David Long, but still got enough of him to make the play work. … On rare cut block, got linebacker Rashaan Evans off balance just enough to allow Burkhead to gain 12 yards. … Booked for 1/2 “bad” run when he couldn’t get to Evans on second level and a full “bad” run when Casey avoided his cut block attempt.
Case for signing …
The depth of the draft, cornerback in round 1 and receiver in round 2, allows for the Broncos to spend big on Thuney, who would move to right guard and settle that side of the line after Leary couldn’t finish 2019 and right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee) couldn’t get out of the blocks. The Broncos should stress durability with this year’s free-agent class and Thuney checks that box (never missed a game).
Case against signing …
Last year, the Broncos drafted Dalton Risner in the second round and he became an effective starter at left guard so the feeling could be to go that route at right guard this year, especially if McGovern is re-signed. Having one of the league’s best (if not the best) position coach in Mike Munchak allows the Broncos to wait for the draft. Plus, a Thuney contract, combined with the acquisition of cornerback A.J. Bouye, would end the Broncos’ big offseason spending.
Wednesday: Los Angeles Rams linebacker Cory Littleton.
