On Wednesday it was reported that the Ravens’ right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is seeking a trade. After Ronnie Stanley went down with an injury against the Steelers in Week 8, Brown filled in at left tackle for 11 games. He has since stated that he sees himself as a left tackle and that he wants to play for a team that will play him there.
Brown has been a great player for the Ravens since they drafted him in the third round in 2018. His 76.4 PFF grade this season saw him ranked as the 25th best tackle in the NFL. Since moving to left side he ranked 22nd, and 11th specifically amongst left tackles. He has one year left on his rookie deal before hitting free agency in 2022, with just a $3.6 million cap hit next season.
It is rare to see a player of Brown’s quality hit the market at such an early stage of his career. Given the way that tackles develop, it is safe to assume that his best football is probably still ahead of him. As a result, there are likely to be plenty of suitors, but any team looking to trade will need to have the draft capital to make a trade and the cap space required to extend him long-term. Here are three of the teams who fit that bill and who should consider trading for him.
Jacksonville Jaguars
This is perhaps the most obvious candidate to trade for Brown. The Jags look set to take Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft. The next big question they need to answer is how they are going to protect him. The Jags struggled with their offensive line all season. Per PFF the unit ranked 19th in pass blocking grade and 25th in run blocking.
The biggest problem was actually at tackle. Cam Robinson and Jawaan Taylor allowing a league-high 98 combined pressures and 13 sacks this season. Robinson is set to hit free agency this offseason, and there is very little prospect of the Jags re-signing him. They need to find a viable solution for 2021 and beyond and Brown would be a great option.
Whilst the Jags could consider a tackle in the draft, they would get themselves a proven NFL commodity in Brown. In addition to the No. 1 overall pick, they also hold the 25th pick. This should go a long way in moving the needle for a trade. With $77.5 million in cap space, Jacksonville would also be well placed to extend Brown to a long-term deal.
Indianapolis Colts
Whilst the Jags can maybe afford to take a longer term view at the tackle position, the Colts are in the market for quality right now. Whilst Philip Rivers’ retirement leaves the quarterback question unanswered, this is still a team firmly in a win-now window. Aside from quarterback, the biggest hole on their roster is at left tackle after the retirement of Anthony Castonzo.
Brown would represent a seamless transition and maintain the offensive line’s position as one of the very best in the NFL. He would be a great fit for the Colts’ power running game, and the combination of him and Quenton Nelson on the left side of the line would be one of the most fearsome in the NFL. There are few other holes on this roster and if the Colts can add a quarterback in free agency, Brown could make them one of the best teams in a competitive AFC.
Like the Jags, the Colts have both the draft capital and cap space necessary to make the move. They are set to pick at No. 21 in this year’s draft, which should be enough to land Brown. Their GM Chris Ballard also showed last year that he is willing to trade draft capital for proven talent. The Colts are projected to have $69.1 million in cap space next year, second only to Jacksonville. If Brown wants to move to a team ready to challenge in the AFC, the Colts may be the best destination.
Washington Football Team
If the Ravens aren’t keen on trading Brown to an AFC rival, Washington may be the best landing spot. They struggled for consistency at left tackle this season, with three starters through their 17 games. Cornelius Lucas was the best of the bunch, allowing a respectable 17 pressures throughout his nine starts. That said, Lucas is a free agent in 2022 and does not represent a long-term solution at the position.
This move all depends on how Washington see their ceiling in the near future. They surprised everyone with their playoff run this season but if they feel like that is repeatable in 2021, they may want an instant impact player at left tackle. Much like the Colts, there are still question marks about the quarterback situation next season, but it makes sense to put building blocks in place for any future starter.
Washington certainly have the cap space, with $39.6 million projected in 2021. They can also offer a better first round pick than both the Jags and the Colts, picking at No. 19 this year. Brown could be the replacement to Trent Williams that Washington has been looking for. Although there is likely to be several good tackles still on the board at No. 19, they may want a proven commodity rather than a rookie.
