Controversial Patriot Leaving New England for AFC Rival

The Trent Brown experiment is over in New England. After a tumultuous 2023 season with the Patriots, the offensive tackle agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday.

Brown's signing with the Bengals caps his second stint in Foxborough. Brown previously played for the Patriots in 2018 and won Super Bowl LIII. He was traded back to New England in 2021.

Brown, 30, struggled with injuries all last season and was inactive for six games scattered throughout the schedule. He was healthy scratched for the Patriots' Week 17 loss in Buffalo was also inactive for the team's Week 18 finale against the New York Jets.

After the Patriots' Week 14 Thursday Night Football win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown reportedly "openly discussed plans" to play for another team in the locker room, a report which he refutes. Well, he will now in fact be playing for another team in 2024. Despite the rollercoaster of last season, Brown stated that he was open to returning this season.

With Brown now out of the fold, New England will have to make a decision on how to approach the left tackle position heading into next season. Offseason signing Chukwuma Okorafor is now in line as a potential Week 1 starter at left tackle and would compete with a rookie if New England takes one in next month's draft.

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