Trent Brown is going back to New England. On Tuesday morning, the Raiders agreed to trade the tackle and a 2022 seventh-round draft pick to the Patriots in exchange for a 2022 fifth-rounder (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).
Brown was due $14MM in salary, a sum that was too rich for the Raiders’ blood. It was set to be the third year of his massive four-year, $66MM deal, but last year’s setbacks gave them second thoughts. He started strong, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2019 as a right tackle. Then, two stints on the COVID-19 list limited him to just five games in 2020. When asked recently about Brown’s future with the team, Raiders GM Mike Mayock said the jury is “still out.” Now, Brown is out of town.
“When he’s healthy, he’s dominant,” Mayock said after the season ended. “And you’ve got to juxtapose that with his inability to play, week to week, over a two-year period. We’ve got to get a more consistent player. We think he’s the best right tackle in the league when healthy.”
The 27-year-old (28 in April) agreed to re-work his contract as a part of the deal. Instead of two years at $29.5MM, Brown will play on a new one-year, $11MM pact.
Brown enjoyed a tremendous season with the Patriots in 2018. That year, he started in all 19 regular and postseason games en route to a Super Bowl championship. Pro Football Focus was bullish on his performance too, ranking him 32nd among 80 eligible linemen.
Duuuuuude we already have Onwenu why are we making this move???
They need: Brown, Onwenu, Mason, Wynn & Andrews. Very good move bc most of $11 mil won’t even hit their cap.
Because you always try to accumulate quality players, injuries, underperforming, etc…and because one move cannot be looked at under or microscope, but in the big, long term picture. Maybe they make another move now. Maybe they keep for depth. Maybe someone else can be cut for cap purposes, etc…
Pats can now bump Wynn over to guard to replace Thuney who will be gone. My understanding of deal is that most of the $11 mil will not count against cap for Pats because its incentive based. Giving up a 2022 5th and a 7th is a good move by Pats.
You don’t even give up the seventh, just the fifth. Raiders are throwing in the seventh, so this is a no brainier for NE
Crap, that is better. I thought it was Pats giving up 7th. TY
Let’s gooooo! Great move and start the offseason by Bill. Let’s keep it going
Guess we’re addressing the O-line in the draft
Even with Simpson we still need two more starters. Unless they somehow think Parker has learned how to play finally.
Will he play RT or LT? I’m not sure Wynn is the answer at LT.
Brown to LT, Wynn to LG to replace Thuney whom the Pats have said they won’t be tagging again.
This also allows them to cut Cannon to open ~$7M of cap space depending on what other options they find for the line.
Exactly. Cannon gone and now they will trade Gilmore and free up more cap space.
I feel like they want Wynn at LT. Not sure why just a hunch. Onwenu would move to LG and Brown would play RT
I could see that as well.
Brown to New England wow didn’t see that coming