Just about everything that could go wrong for the 2023 New England Patriots has gone wrong, and that includes drama with starting left tackle Trent Brown. The former seventh-round originally joined the Patriots back in 2018, helping the organization win their sixth Super Bowl before departing for greener pastures and signing a $66 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Brown never played up to that deal and eventually returned to the Patriots in 2021. After a strong season, New England signed him to a two-year extension before the 2022 season.
Since then, however, Trent Brown and the team have not exactly seen eye to eye. The offensive lineman publicly feuded with then-offensive coordinator Matt Patricia in 2022, and he has continued expressing his frustration with the franchise in 2023. The Patriots made him a healthy inactive in Week 17’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills, costing him a chance at his $6.5 million in playtime incentives.
Gotta think this is the beginning of the end for Trent in New England https://t.co/nNV5eAa72Y
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) December 31, 2023
It’s clear that Trent Brown has worn out his welcome in New England, but it’s not all bad news for the impending free agent. While effort problems are a serious concern, it’s worth noting that Brown is still effective when on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, the 6′-8″, 370-pound offensive tackle is the 10th-best player in the league at his position, and he has experience on both sides of the line. So, chances are he will get a low-risk, high-reward one-year deal, and these five teams make the most sense as potential destinations.
Trent Brown Expected to Leave New England Patriots
Possible Team Fits
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are currently $87 million over the salary cap, which means they’ll have to do some bargain-hunting if they want to fix their offensive line. Ryan Ramczyk is still good, but former first-round pick Trevor Penning is not living up to his draft capital. The Saints can hope that Penning improves in Year 3, but they’ll need a backup plan in case he’s not up for the task. Trent Brown isn’t going to break the bank and can be an adequate starter in a pinch.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: the Pittsburgh Steelers need more help on the offensive line. Kenny Pickett is probably on the way out, but whoever takes his place won’t have much success without better protection. Rookie first-round pick Broderick Jones is starting to show some signs of life, but Dan Moore is an active liability. A motivated version of Trent Brown is a clear upgrade at tackle, and Mike Tomlin has a history of getting to the most out of players with questionable work ethics.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has taken a beating this year, and all these hits are largely due to the subpar play of the offensive tackles. Rookie Anton Harrison has struggled, but he’s a first-round pick so he might get better with time. Cam Robinson and Walker Little, however, have been in the league for a while and don’t have any projected room for growth. A healthy Lawrence can take Jacksonville to the Super Bowl, and Trent Brown can help keep the former first-overall pick standing upright for an entire 17-game season.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have arguably the best interior offensive line in football. The tackle position, however, is a work in progress. As of this posting, Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris, and Donovan Smith are all outside the top 60 in PFF grade. Morris is a rookie and Taylor is earning an absurd amount of money, so those two aren’t going anywhere. Smith, however, is a free agent and shouldn’t command much more than Trent Brown on the open market. While Smith has the safer floor, Brown has the higher ceiling, so Kansas City should shoot for the stars and try to secure the massive tackle.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need help at every offensive position, and that includes offensive tackle. After a promising rookie season, Ikem Ekwonu took a major step back during his second season in the league. Maybe he was just a bad fit for Frank Reich’s blocking scheme, but the Panthers need a Plan B in case Ekwonu never recaptures his rookie form. Trent Brown is a perfect fit for the job, as he shouldn’t cost too much, can start if necessary, and can play both tackle positions if relegated to backup duties.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
