Joe Thuney

Summary

Joe Thuney was selected in Round 3 (#78 Overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State University. A highly polished interior lineman coming out of college, Thuney became an immediate NFL starter and has since established himself as one of the most reliable and accomplished guards of his generation. At NC State, he was a multi-year starter at left guard and tackle, earning Second-Team All-ACC honors while demonstrating advanced technique and football intelligence. In the NFL, Thuney has started every game he has played through the 2024 season, becoming known for elite durability and consistency. Across his career with the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, he has helped anchor offensive lines that won four Super Bowls and supported multiple top-tier quarterbacks. Thuney is a multiple-time Pro Bowl selection and earned First-Team All-Pro honors (2021), consistently ranking among the league leaders in pass-block win rate and pressure allowed (often among the lowest at his position). The future Hall-of-Famer is universally respected for his professionalism, intelligence, toughness, and leadership, serving as a stabilizing presence in high-pressure, championship environments.

Strengths

• Elite Pass Protection: Outstanding anchor, balance, and hand placement; rarely allows interior pressure. Thrives in playoff and late-game situations and is trusted in critical downs.

• Poise & Consistency: One of the most dependable linemen in the NFL; extremely low variance snap-to-snap. Calm, steady presence and sets preparation and accountability standards.

• Football IQ & Awareness: Excellent at identifying stunts, blitzes, and twists; communicates effectively. Wins with precision, angles, and body control rather than raw power.

• Durability: Exceptional availability; ironman starter who handles heavy snap counts year after year.

Weaknesses

• Raw Power Ceiling: Not a mauler and wins more with technique than overwhelming displacement strength.

• Age & Mileage: Entering later career stages so his long-term snap management will eventually matter.

• Explosiveness in Run Game: More efficient than dominant when asked to drive defenders off the ball.

• Highlight Impact: Impact is subtle and technical rather than visibly dominant.

Outlook

Joe Thuney is an ideal fit for any offense that prioritizes interior pass protection, communication, and reliability. He excels in spread, West Coast, and play-action systems, where clean pockets and protection integrity are essential. His intelligence and awareness make him particularly valuable against complex defensive fronts that rely on disguise and interior pressure. Thuney’s presence allows quarterbacks to step up confidently in the pocket and enables offensive coordinators to expand the playbook without protection concerns and has paid huge dividends in Caleb Williams’ year two ascension in Chicago. At this point in the twilight of his career, Thuney serves as a high-end veteran starter whose game should age gracefully due to his reliance on technique, intelligence, and balance rather than raw athleticism. While workload management will become more important over time, he remains a championship-caliber guard capable of anchoring elite offensive lines. Beyond performance, his leadership, preparation habits, and winning pedigree ensure continued value as both a core starter and locker-room cornerstone for contending teams.