This offseason the Baltimore Ravens may have a situation involving a disgruntled player that may be a first. Ravens starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley was lost for the season due to an ankle injury during Week 8. The teams starting right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. moved to the left side for the rest of the season and D.J. Fluker started on the right side.
The dilemma is that it seems that Brown does not seem like he wants to transition back to the right side now that Stanley is healthy.
I’m a LEFT Tackle.
— Orlando Brown Jr. (@ZEUS__57) January 29, 2021
Brown tweeted “I’m a LEFT Tackle” a week ago. This is a problem because the Ravens already have Stanley who was a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler last season. The Ravens also gave Stanley a five year $98.75 Million extension to be the teams left tackle of the future.
It is understandable for Brown to want to make the transition to left tackle full time. He played well at the position last season and has a chance to make a lot more money as a left tackle. Currently, David Bakhtiari of the Green Bay Packers is the highest paid left tackle in the league making $23 Million a year. While the highest paid right tackle in the league is Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles who only makes $18 Million a season.
Brown played left tackle in college at Oklahoma and was one of the best offensive linemen of the country. He was First Team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2016 & 2017.
If Brown doesn’t want to return to right tackle the Ravens would likely have to trade him to a team who will start him at left tackle. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last two seasons. There are plenty of teams who would be interested in trading for Brown. Also the team who trades for Brown will have to extend him because he is going to be a free agent after the 2021-22 season.
Teams that could trade for Orlando Brown Jr. if he were to hit the trade market:
“*” means the player is a free agent
Indianapolis Colts
Compensation: Second Round Pick (54th Overall)
The Indianapolis Colts did not have any major voids on their roster until both Philip Rivers and Anthony Costanzo retired. Now they are in need of a quarterback and left tackle which are the most important positions on an offense. If the Colts want to take advantage of their Super Bowl window they cannot rely on the draft to fill both of these positions. Indianapolis should attempt to fill both voids with veterans. But it isn’t the worst if they only fix one of their needs with a veteran and the other in the draft.
It’s likely that Brown would be better than any option the team can get with their second round pick. After acquiring Brown the team can focus on their plan at quarterback and possibly at a pass catcher or two.
The Colts offensive line wouldn’t skip a beat if they added Brown. They would once again be a top 3 offensive lines in the NFL next season and years after that.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown Jr., LG: Quenton Nelson, C: Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, RT: Braden Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
Compensation: Second Round Pick (47th Overall)
Even though the Los Angeles Chargers went 7-9 last season they have one of the most talented rosters in the league. The team’s biggest need for some time has been left tackle. Now that the Chargers have a star quarterback entering his second season in Justin Herbert it is more important than ever that they protect him. Herbert is the Chargers most valuable asset to the team’s future and only have stable starters on the right side of the offensive line in Trai Turner or Bryan Bulaga.
If the Chargers trade a second round pick to Baltimore for Brown they could focus their first round pick and salary cap available on other needs. The Chargers could add a pass rusher, starting caliber interior offensive lineman, and a defensive back to fill the void of Desmond King.
Brown could be the Chargers franchise left tackle who is responsible for protecting Justin Herbert for the rest of their careers.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown Jr., LG: Forrest Lamp*, C: Mike Pouncey*, RG: Trai Turner, RT: Bryan Bulaga
Washington Football Team
Compensation: Second Round Pick (51st Overall)
The Washington Football Team made the playoffs last season because of their great defense. But their offense is in desperate need of upgrades. They appear to have their wide receiver one, starting running back, starting tight end and a couple starting caliber offensive lineman. Washington is in desperate need of a few reliable pass catchers, a long term solution at quarterback, and a starting left tackle.
Washington has a lot of available salary to fix their problems. Out of all the veteran tackle available Brown is the best option for Washington. This is because it is extremely unlikely that Trent Williams will return to this organization. Washington could get their left tackle now, add a veteran quarterback, and some pass catchers through free agency, then draft their quarterback of the future in the first round.
The NFC East will definitely be better next season. Washington needs to add multiple pieces to be a legitimate contender in the NFC. Trading for a player like Brown could be the first step in that direction.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown, LG: Wes Schweitzer, C: Chase Roullier, RG: Brandon Scherff*, RT: Morgan Moses
Carolina Panthers
Compensation: Second Round Pick (39th Overall Pick)
Last season the Carolina Panthers made the puzzling decision to trade 5x Pro Bowler Trai Turner for average left tackle Russell Okung. Now the Panthers have a void at left tackle once more because Okung is a free agent. The Panthers took left tackle Greg Little in the second round of the 2019 Draft. At this point, it appears that the team does not have faith in Little as the future of the franchise. Both the head coach and general manager who drafted Little are out of Carolina. So the team could move off of Little onto other options if they please.
Carolina’s second round pick might be the best offer the Ravens could get for Brown. This makes the Panthers one of the favorites to land Brown. Despite going through a rebuild trading for a player like Brown could bode well for the long-term future of the Panthers.
If Carolina makes Brown and Taylor Moton their bookend tackles of the future their franchise quarterback will be well protected.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown Jr., LG: Dennis Daley, C: Matt Paradis, RG: John Miller*, RT: Taylor Moton*
Jacksonville Jaguars
Compensation: Second Round Pick Via Minnesota Vikings (45th Overall Pick)
The Jacksonville Jaguars had the worst record in football a season ago. But under new head coach Urban Meyer the Jaguars can try to speed up their rebuild by trading for a player like Brown. The Jaguars need to get younger and better on their offensive line. The Jaguars especially need to prioritize their offensive line with Trevor Lawrence likely becoming their franchise quarterback next season
Despite Brown’s early career success, the 33rd overall pick feels a little too rich to trade for Brown. Especially factoring in all the needs the team has on their roster. They could really use the 33rd overall pick on a high end starter and get away with trading the 45th overall pick for Brown.
Cam Robinson never developed into the left tackle Jacksonville thought he would become when they took him in the second round. Jacksonville could trade a second round pick to get the franchise left tackle they have been lacking in Brown.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown Jr., LG: Andrew Norwell, C: Brandon Linder, RG: A.J. Cann, RT: Jawaan Taylor
Minnesota Vikings
Compensation: Third Round Pick (79th Overall), Fourth Round Pick via Buffalo Bills (125th Overall)
Minnesota is already at a disadvantage to the other teams who would be interested in trading for Brown. The Vikings do not have their second round pick for this season because they traded it to Jacksonville for Yannick Ngakoue. They traded Ngakoue to the Ravens for a third and fifth round pick once they realized this was going to be a lost season.
Last year the Vikings took Ezra Cleveland in the second round to be the left tackle of the future. But Minnesota could keep Cleveland at left guard if they acquired a player like Brown. Despite the team’s success at drafting skill positions, they have not been able to get the offensive line right. Minnesota could bring in a veteran from another team to bring their young offensive line to the next level.
Minnesota also does not have the available salary cap to extend Brown long term. But the Vikings will likely try to move some money around this offseason to get some more cap space for the next two seasons. Brown is too good of a player at a major need for the Vikings not to try to trade for. If the Rams could extend Jalen Ramsey, the Vikings will figure it out with Brown.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown Jr., LG: Dakota Dozier, C: Garrett Bradberry, RG: Ezra Cleveland, RT: Brian O’Neill
San Fransisco 49ers
Compensation: Second Round Pick (43rd Overall)
When looking at San Fransisco’s roster right now they do not have a need at left tackle. But this offseason 33 year old Trent Williams contract is up. There’s a chance that the 49ers will need a new starting left tackle for the second year in a row. The 49ers could draft their left tackle of the future in the first round but might be better off trading for Brown.
49ers general manager John Lynch is not afraid to trade high draft picks for stars. If the 49ers trade their second round pick to Baltimore for Brown they only have to focus on replacing Richard Sherman and finding a better option than Jimmy Garoppolo. A move like this could put San Fransisco back into the playoffs next season.
This option may be better long term than extending Trent Williams anyways. Williams is 33 and will likely decline creating a need at left tackle in the near future. The 49ers could have two great bookend tackles in Mike McGlinchey and Brown for the next ten years.
Projected Offensive Line: LT: Orlando Brown Jr., LG: Laken Tomlinson, C: Weston Richburg, RG: Tom Compton*, RT: Mike McGlinchey
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