The New England Patriots are already making moves in a crucial offseason.
ESPN reports the Patriots will be acquiring offensive tackle Trent Brown in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders pending a one-year contract agreement with Brown worth up to $11 million. Sources told ESPN the teams are both expected to include late-round 2022 NFL Draft picks as part of the trade.
Brown, 27, started for the Patriots in every game during the 2018 NFL season, which resulted in the franchise's most recent Super Bowl victory. The Raiders signed the offensive tackle to a four-year, $66 million contract as an unrestricted free agent one month later, but injuries have limited Brown to just 16 appearances during the last two seasons.
"Trent's whole thing is when he's healthy, in shape and ready to go, he's as dominant as any tackle in football, and he proved that early in the 2019 season. Since then, it's kind of been a roller coaster," Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said last week via ESPN.
"So really what he needs to do more than anything is get himself in the best shape of his life and come out and prove that he is a dominant tackle in the National Football League, and really that's all it takes. If Trent gets in shape and stays committed, there's not a better talent out there."
Perhaps a change of scenery will be the right diagnosis, as Brown expressed his excitement following news of his return to New England.
"I LOVE IT HERE !! @patriots," Brown shared alongside a photo of himself celebrating during the Patriots' most recent Super Bowl parade on his Instagram account.
New England isn't expected to use its franchise tag on starting left guard Joe Thuney for the second consecutive year, which creates a need for more offensive linemen in the trenches next seaosn.
Brown was scheduled to earn $13.7 million in base salary in 2021 and $15 million in 2022 from the Raiders prior to the trade announcement.
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