LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 13: Offensive tackle Trent Brown #77 of the Las Vegas Raiders walks off the field after warmups before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
After going without Trent Brown for half of their games the past two seasons, the Raiders decided Tuesday they’re better off without him by reportedly agreeing to trade their high-priced offensive tackle to the New England Patriots.
The Raiders dealt the 6-foot-8, 380-pound Brown to the Patriots for a 2022 fifth-round pick, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. In order to shed Brown’s $14 million salary off their 2021 salary cap, the Raiders also shipped their 2022 seventh-round pick to New England.
Big move: The #Patriots are expected to trade for #Raiders OT Trent Brown, sources say. Back to where he became a star.
My story: https://t.co/KVDEjfUy9W
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2021
The trade ends Brown’s mostly disappointing two-year Raiders career, one that began with tons of promise when the team made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman by signing him to a massive, four-year, $66 million free-agent deal to leave the Patriots in 2019.
Brown was dominant during the 11 games he played with the Raiders in 2019, earning Pro Bowl honors. A torn pectoral muscle sidelined him for five games that season. Things turned sour for Brown this past season as he dealt with a calf injury and had a scary episode when he was hospitalized after getting a pre-game IV that reportedly caused air to enter his bloodstream.
The injuries caused Brown to miss all but five games for the Raiders in 2020.
Now, Brown heads back to New England, where his one-year stay as their left tackle before free agency was the best of his six NFL seasons.
Judging by Brown’s response Tuesday on social media, he’s overjoyed to be leaving the Raiders. He had two years remaining on his contract, but agreed to a restructured one-year, $11 million deal with the Patriots.
“I LOVE IT HERE!!” Brown wrote while tagging the Patriots on his Instagram post Tuesday morning showing him celebrating with his arms in the air.
Brown also confirmed reports he hadn’t been happy with the Raiders with a Twitter post, “Money don’t mean (expletive) if you ain’t happy I swear to GOD!!”
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock indicated recently the team wasn’t sold on keeping Brown’s heavy contract when they weren’t sure they could count on him each week.
“Trent’s whole thing is when he’s healthy and in shape and ready to go he’s as dominant as any tackle in football,” Mayock told reporters. “He proved that early in the 2019 season. Since then it’s been kind of a roller coaster . . . if Trent gets in shape and stays committed there’s not a better talent out there.”
The trade opens up a gaping hole at right tackle for the Raiders, but it also opens up $14 million on their salary cap availability. According to OverTheCap.com’s figures, Brown’s trade and the reported releases of safety Lamarcus Joyner, receiver Tyrell Williams and guards Gabe Jackson and Richie Incognito leave the Raiders with just under $30 million of cap space heading into next week’s NFL free agency period. The league’s salary cap is projected to be at least $180.5 million.
Williams’ release — and subsequent signing with the Lions — is the only one of the Raiders’ cuts that’s been officially recorded by the NFL office, though.
Once those moves are recorded and free agency begins, the Raiders will now have to replace both of their starting guards and their right tackle from their 2020 opening game lineup.
