Chowder and Champions
Fansided

New England Patriots rumors: Reacquiring Trent Brown is a great move

By Max Bozicas

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets on November 25, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 27-13. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets on November 25, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 27-13. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New England Patriots have made a trade! Things are starting to heat up as we get closer to free agency, as the team has brought back a familiar face in offensive tackle Trent Brown.

The Patriots are sending a 2022 fifth-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Brown and a 2022 seventh-round pick. Brown has also agreed to a restructured deal where he will make $11 million in 2021 and will hit free agency in 2022.

Even if it’s only a one-year rental, this is a great move for the New England Patriots. The team had serious questions to answer at the offensive tackle position, with Isaiah Wynn struggling to stay healthy and Marcus Cannon having a cap hit of nearly $10 million entering what would be his age 33 season should the Patriots decide to keep him around.

Brown has experience playing both left and right tackle. He played on the left side during his first tenure in New England in 2018, but switched over to the right side when he signed his massive deal with the Raiders.

It’s too early to tell where Brown will line up in 2021, but it would make sense for him to stay at right tackle with the potential to kick over to the left if Wynn deals with injury issues again.

More from New England Patriots

Brown has shown the ability to be an absolute force regardless, as his play in 2018 netted him a four-year, $66 million contract in Las Vegas. Brown did deal with some injury issues of his own, as he played at a high level through 11 games in 2019 before being placed on IR, and then had his 2020 season plagued by COVID-19.

Even with that in mind, this is a low risk move considering what the Patriots are giving up to bring Brown back. Brown is an absolute monster at 6’8″, 380 lbs and at his peak is a top-tier offensive tackle.

What’s the state of New England Patriots offensive line with Trent Brown in the fold?

The Patriots still have other things to address on the offensive line, as the future of both David Andrews and Joe Thuney is still in question. It feels as if though Thuney will be somewhere else for 2021 and beyond, but it would make a great deal of sense to bring Andrews back.

If that happens, then this line is going to be nasty on paper. Isaiah Wynn (again, if healthy) and Brown at tackle, Michael Onwenu and Shag Mason at guard with David Andrews back in the middle? That’s one of the top units in football, and whoever is playing quarterback in New England in 2021 is going to be very happy.

Next. Why Jimmy Garoppolo is best plan at quarterback. dark

The New England Patriots still have a ton of work to do in the offseason, but bringing Trent Brown back is an encouraging sign of things to come.

Home/New England Patriots