Patriots Select OG Thuney With 78th Pick

The New England Patriots cashed in their second pick in the NFL Draft by selecting NC State offensive guard Joe Thuney in the third round. 

Thuney earned All-ACC first-team honors last season, as he worked extensively at the guard position and powered the running game. During his time with the Wolfpack, however, he worked along the entire offensive line.

Thuney is considered a versatile prospect with room to grow. His solid combine numbers prove that he has upside, however. He ran under five seconds in his 40-yard dash and cleared 110 inches in the broad jump.

With veteran offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia coming back to the team full time this season, the selection of Thuney (78th overall) looks even better. Scarnecchia's ability to get the best out of his linemen should help him develop Thuney into a key cog along the line in the future.

With the issues along the line last season, that was one of the top needs for the team entering the draft. Using a third round pick on a lineman shows that they are looking for guys that can come in and compete for playing time this season.