Dear 8lb 6oz Baby Jesus...2020 FA Profile Joe Thuney

[JustinTime18™]

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/joe...-team-fits

My only concern is what does he look like without Dante coaching him up.

[Guest]

Thuney's at the top of the list. Ahead of even Scherff IMO. But I'm not getting my hopes up. 

Thuney is a great example of why we have every right to expect good things from Samia in '20, and why you should be able to get good guards in the 3rd round, and why college tackles make good NFL guards, and why you shouldn't pay too much attention to arm length (32). 

[Guest]

Oh man, they aren't in the same conversation athletically...arm length and hand size aren't negatives for Samia...

[Guest]

@"BarrNone55" said:
Oh man, they aren't in the same conversation athletically...arm length and hand size aren't negatives for Samia...

Not comparing them athletically, or even physically. Just as middle round draft choices. Both were projected as 3rd rounders.  Thuney was a Shrine Game standout from the ACC, who most thought needed some time to put on weight. He started day one. Samia was a Senior Bowl standout from the Big 12 who came in pretty much ready to go. 

I'm not saying we should pass on Thuney because, hey, Samia. I'm saying that if we can't afford a big time guard, it's not crazy to think that Samia, in his 2nd season, would be an upgrade over Elflein. 

[Guest]

My only concern about Samia is as bad as Elf was, he couldn't uproot him last year. But, most guys make a jump in year two. 

[Guest]

Samia was a little more raw from a technique standpoint IMO. He played in between future NFLers at Oklahoma and used his athletic traits, size and pure nasty more than refined skill. It's the major reason he was still around in the 4th, guys with lower ceilings but higher floors were still there in the 3rd and Dru needed a year to develop before he would be ready to start.

I do think Zimmer's comments about redshirting him and Udoh were legit and not smoke. But he and Rick can't walk into potentially their last year counting on either kid to start.

Having said that, Thuney is too big an ask given the other holes. I personally expect an exodus of older guys and not re-signing both Waynes & Mac. Depends on the market but Trae and Alexander might not find what they're hoping for. I do think someone will either overspend for Waynes or give Mac a shot to start on the Outside. 

So a veteran CB is a virtual must. Possibly a body at NT to compete with Jaleel. Possibly a DE if both Weatherly and Griff are gone (Geoff has mentioned the Vikings would like to make a splash here if they can). Possibly a Safety. And a LG.

Minnesota won't have quite that many holes, but that's certainly too many to fill solely via the Draft. That means some Free Agent signings. Inking Thuney would pretty much kill adding anyone else except for a Tier 3 guy. Adding him would undoubtedly be a Massive Upgrade from Elf and also make both Bradbury and whomever is at LT better.

But at the cost of getting a CB and a Lineman? Or a Safety that allows Harry to stay near the LOS? It's close but the cost benefit analysis probably comes up short. 

And there's a couple of reasons for that.  First, Kubiak has proven time and time again that he doesn't need Tier 1 Free Agents or high Draft Picks to field strong Lines. And yet he's inheriting one with two 1sts and a 2nd on it (Reiff was a 1st Round Pick of the Lions). 

Second is how gaping the hole is between bad and average. Remmers was bad. Kline is average. And we all saw what an upgrade he was last year. Just upgrading from Elf to Average, coupled with a stronger, more experienced Bradbury is going to look like day versus night. 

There's also the example of the 9ers. Tier 3 RG. Backup Center. Former 1st Round bust at LG. Their RT is about as good as O'Neill. Staley isn't miles better than Reiff. But there isn't a gaping hole on that Line like Elf to overcome. And San Francisco has better playcalling. With Gary as the OC that playcalling gap closes. With a Tier 2 FA at LG that gap closes.

There are degrees to everything in football and very few absolutes. Elf's bad moments combined with Kevin's stubbornness or lack or creativity or inability to adjust or whatever you want to call it, still had the Offense Top 10 in scoring. It was when that combination and Kirk's limitations came up against good to great D-Lines is where things unraveled. 

Sign Connor McGovern. Or draft Muti in the 2nd. Heck, kids with more upside than Samia will be available in the 3rd. And I still wouldn't count Samia out. Wouldn't surprise me on bit if he wins a Sarting spot.

Thuney is awesome. No doubt. But getting him puts too much pressure on the Draft to fix everything else to make it worth it to me.

[Guest]

I'm not sure if anyone can make a workable offseason plan that involves a $15M/year guard (per the articles valuation).