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Patriots make surprising move, decide to franchise tag guard Joe Thuney

If you’re in need of offensive line help this offseason, you’re probably waiting for the NFL draft.

Free agency will be pretty light on the line. Another top lineman was taken off the list Monday, when the New England Patriots gave the franchise tag to guard Joe Thuney according to his agent Mike McCartney.

It was a surprising move, considering Thuney isn’t a star and the franchise tag price for a guard will likely be $14 million-15 million. But the Patriots seemed to understand the market.

Joe Thuney has developed into a top guard

By tagging Thuney, the Patriots have options.