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NFL Free Agency: Who are the 25 best players on the market?

By Brad Berreman

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs out onto the field before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs out onto the field before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images /

7. OG Joe Thuney

Thuney has transitioned from college offensive tackle to NFL guard quite nicely, starting all 64 games he has played. He earned second-team All-Pro honors last season, with a 97 percent pass block win rate (second-best among guards, according to ESPN and Next Gen Stats).

Pro Football Focus was also complementary of his work, ranking him No. 5 among guards (77.4 overall grade) with the third-best pass blocking grade at the position (87.4, with just 16 credited pressures on 693 attempts).

With Brandon Scherff reportedly set to be franchise-tagged by the Washington Redskins if the two sides don’t agree on a long-term deal, Thuney is in line to be the No.1 guard available in free agency with plenty of suitors. A projected contract, courtesy of PFF, of five years, $67.5 million with $30.5 million guaranteed is probably too rich for the Patriots to keep him.

FanSided’s Matt Verderame reported on Thuney from the NFL Scouting Combine, stating he could reset the market at guard with 12-14 teams expressing interest in the veteran.

But the Miami Dolphins, with head coach Brian Flores ready to reportedly lead an effort to target former Patriots in free agency, can and should pony up for Thuney. If there’s a bidding war, Miami can win it if they want to with the most cap space in the league right now (just over $88 million, via Over The Cap). In any case, Thuney will officially become one of highest-paid guards in the NFL sometime around March 18.

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