Joe Thuney drafted by Patriots
All-America offensive lineman Joe Thuney was the first former NC State player off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft, being selected with the 78th overall pick by the New England Patriots. He was tabbed with the 15th pick in the third round to become the Wolfpack's highest-drafted offensive lineman since Joe Milnichik (No. 69 overall to the Lions in 1986).
The team announced him as a guard, although former Patriots running back Kevin Faulk mistakenly announced him as a linebacker in Chicago. According to NFL.com, the versatile blocker was the 13th offensive lineman to hear his name called and the fifth guard to be drafted.
In his senior year, Thuney was the first Pack blocker to be named a first-team All-American since Jim Ritcher, who went on to have a successful NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons, in 1979. Thuney was given the honor by USA Today, and he was also a first-team All-ACC selection, marking a first for an NCSU lineman since 2003.
"We were just taking about the New England Patriots — smart football players, they put such a premium on it," NFL Network draft analyst and former NFL head coach Brian Billick said after the pick was made. "I mean, everyone wants smart football players. This was a three-year starter at North Carolina State. He's got the size ... the bulk will come, I don't worry about that in the NFL with the training — the guy's got the long arms, he's smart, he'll learn to use the leverage with the size. This is very much a typical Patriot pick."
"He has versatility, he can play tackle, he can play guard," fellow NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah added. "He's very, very smart; he can bend. He's going to be a nice guy to work with. He allows you to get your five best guys on the field; if you have an injury, he can play either spot."
Thuney is NC State's first offensive line draft pick since the Seattle Seahawks selected J.R. Sweezy in the seventh round of the 2012 draft, but he did not play offensive line in college. Ted Larsen, a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2010, was the last NCSU offensive lineman who played the position in Raleigh to be selected in the NFL Draft.
