The Atlanta Falcons should target Joe Thuney in free agency
By Matt Siegman
The Atlanta Falcons are about to make difficult decisions to key personnel players on the roster. Sometimes teams must move on in order to fix other areas of need.
One of the biggest areas of need the Atlanta Falcons have is the offensive line. On paper, the Atlanta Falcons offensive line should be playing much better than their play on the field. The Atlanta Falcons already have four key starters on the offensive line: left tackle Jake Matthews, center Alex Mack, right guard Chris Lindstrom, and right tackle Kaleb McGary.
McGary and Lindstrom are coming off rookie seasons and both suffered injuries. Thankfully for the Falcons McGary only missed a few preseason games, but Lindstrom missed the majority of the season. McGary had his ups and downs but has all the tools to be a long-term starter at right tackle.
The Atlanta Falcons had bad luck with Lindstrom getting injured in the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Despite missing a lot of time Lindstrom made several starts late in the season and the Falcons offense started to play much better with him on the field.
The veterans on the offensive line, Jake Matthews and Alex Mack have been consistent starters for several years. Alex Mack is starting to get old but is a much-needed presence with Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary so young into their playing careers.
Outside of these four the only pieces, the only starting piece the Atlanta Falcons are missing is left-guard. It would be a bad idea to have a rookie starter at left guard because three-fifths of the Falcons offensive line would be a second-year player or younger.
The Atlanta Falcons need to target a veteran at left guard in free agency. The best player to fill this role is Patriots left guard Joe Thuney. Thuney would be a huge pick up for the Atlanta Falcons and could push the offense over the top.
Thuney will be 27 years old entering the 2020 NFL season. The perfect balance of being in the prime of his career, not too old and not too young. Thuney has been an animal for the Patriots offensive line allowing a forty-year-old quarterback Tom Brady, to continue playing.
Next. Falcons cannot settle for Kurt Benkert as the backup QB. dark
The Atlanta Falcons are tight on cap space but Thuney would be a home run pick up for the Atlanta Falcons. He is scheduled to become a free agent and there are currently no talks anywhere of him re-signing with the Patriots. Thuney will probably ask around seven to ten million, which is 100% worth it for the Falcons.