After taking on Trent Brown, the Patriots have decided against using the franchise tag on Joe Thuney (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). As a second-time tag, the offensive lineman would have been in line for about $17.7MM. 
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The Patriots stunned everyone last year by tagging Thuney. Historically, the Patriots have been comfortable with allowing high-priced free agents to walk and the league, for some reason, puts guards and tackles in the same category for the franchise tag. Still, they were willing to give Thuney “tackle money” on a one-year, ~$14.8MM deal.
Thuney, 29 in November, has started in all 80 of his games for the Pats over the last four seasons. In 2018 and 2019, he graded out as one of the five best offensive guards in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. He slipped ever so slightly this past season, placing him at No. 10. With Thuney out of the picture, the Patriots will likely use Trent Brown at left tackle while shifting Isaiah Wynn to left guard.
On the open market, Thuney will likely seek something in the range of $14MM per annum. A five-year, $70MM deal would position him as the highest-paid left guard in the NFL, topping Andrew Norwell‘s $66.5MM deal.
He’d look good in a Bengals uniform protecting Burrow and that’s an hour away from where he grew up in Spring Valley
IMHO, Thuney will sign a 1 year 11 mill. Buyers market and he will be available again next year when market potentially is better for players.
No way he only gets a 1 year deal. And if by some far off chance he does, it will be for more than $11 mill. There are teams that need oline help and have cap space. Especially when the guy is a top 10 guard and has been as durable as he has. As the person above stated, the Bengals would be smart to reach out to him. They have a decent amount of offensive weapons and a QB to build around. Now they need to make sure that QB stays upright long enough to make some plays.
I think it’s the mid-tier free agents who are more likely to be the ones taking one year deals in the hope of scoring a richer, multi-year contract next year, not the top tier guys, who should still be able to command a top-of-the-heap contract.
I expect him to be in a Cincinnati Bengals uniform week# 1
I expect Thuney to be wearing gang green in September. We have a lot more cap space. Jets jets jets!