Cap room for him? Not really, but moves could be made.
Draft capital for him? Maybe, but we're awfully low in the draft.
Tunsil trade (For record-keeping purposes, the trade saw the Dolphins acquire first-round picks in 2020 and 2021 and a second-round pick in 2021 along with offensive tackle Julién Davenport and defensive back Johnson Bademosi in exchange for Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills, a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round selection.)
It only took the Ravens a little over a year to learn their selection of Orlando Brown was a wise one, but they've met a new challenge with the tackle that could be their last.
Brown has expressed his desire to be traded, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday. After spending the majority of 2020 on the left side in place of the injured Ronnie Stanley, Brown has found his comfort zone and does not want to return to the right side. He'll only play for a team that will line him up at his preferred left tackle position, per Rapoport.
Rapoport added the Ravens value Brown significantly and would need major compensation in order to do a deal.
Brown's background is on the left side, but he ended up in Baltimore as a right tackle after a poor pre-draft showing saw him slide from a first-round projection to an eventual third-round pick of the Ravens. He blossomed in 2019 and especially in 2020 after switching to the left side to replace Stanley, earning his second straight trip to the Pro Bowl -- and first as an initial selection. Thanks to Brown's quick adjustment to the left side of the line, Baltimore didn't lose much in offensive production following Stanley's injury, finishing as the league's No. 1 rushing offense for a second straight season.
Brown's success on the left side and desire to remain there might very well also be tied to the financial ramifications of the tackle position. As it currently stands, there is a $5 million per year difference between the league's highest-paid right tackle (Philadelphia's Lane Johnson) and left tackle (Green Bay's David Bakhtiari). Of the top 10 highest-paid tackles in the NFL (in terms of average salary per year), only two -- Johnson and Las Vegas' Trent Brown -- are right tackles.
Orlando Brown missed out on significant money typically afforded to first-round picks right around the moment when he racked the bar after just 14 bench-press reps during a nightmarish 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. He's made a little over $1.8 million in base salary total in his first three seasons, and though he will see a significant boost in 2021 (base salary of $3.38 million) due to the structure of his rookie deal, that's still an incredibly far cry from where tackles of his level land in compensation ranking.
After demonstrating his ability to effectively handle the transition from right to left tackle -- a return to his roots, essentially -- Brown is in a prime position to capitalize financially and beyond. He'll maximize his earning potential by remaining a left tackle, and he'll probably enjoy playing the game a bit more in a stance and vantage point that's more familiar to him, anyway.
If that doesn't fit in Baltimore, the Ravens will have to move him. And though this isn't exactly the best way to ensure maximum leverage in a deal, they'll probably still get a haul for him. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
For sure, my first choice is to sign a stop gap and draft a LT of the future.
But that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet, considering they haven't signed said stop gap. That could all change in the draft but until then, trading for Brown at least remains an option. An option that is, to me, much more palatable and a whole lot less risky than potentially trading even more picks to move up 20 spots in the draft to get an unproven rookie to protect Mahomes.
While Brown's skillset may not be ideal, we know from watching him play that it's more than adequate and that he could step in right now and keep Patrick upright. You can't say that about any rookie, even Sewell.
I'm not a fan of paying what we'd have to pay for "adequate" though.
We don't know what he'd be in an offense where he's gotta pass set 35 times a game.
I wouldn't be opposed to Brown, I just don't really care for it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
Nope. But if you’re going to question one player about sitting out an entire year than you’d better question every player that did.
I agree but even if you take that away and as a pure prospect, Sewell is miles ahead of Niang. I understand that the injury dropped him but even a completely healthy Niang isn't going top 10 in this draft. That gives him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to readiness for this upcoming season.
This is to say nothing of the fact that Sewell has played the LT position longer and been more dominant.
Of course none of that matters since we're not getting Sewell. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
I'm not a fan of paying what we'd have to pay for "adequate" though.
We don't know what he'd be in an offense where he's gotta pass set 35 times a game.
I wouldn't be opposed to Brown, I just don't really care for it.
"More than adequate" is what I said. I believe Brown would be more than adequate.
Again, the Ravens offense is run first but it most certainly isn't the kind of straight ahead power offense that puts their tackles in a phone booth. He had to block the left edge with Jackson running around the way he does. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
"More than adequate" is what I said. I believe Brown would be more than adequate.
Again, the Ravens offense is run first but it most certainly isn't the kind of straight ahead power offense that puts their tackles in a phone booth. He had to block the left edge with Jackson running around the way he does.
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Looks decent to me, especially pulling clear across the formation like that.
He seems to like to stay upright. He clearly is elite in run blocking and pulling across the formation.
My concerns would be quick speed rushers looking to get around on him. With his large frame, is he agile enough to get in front of them before they get the edge? I haven't seen much tape of him against those guys. Has he gone up against Bosa (Chargers) before and how did he do against him?
Not gonna take the time to look all that up. Just didn't know if anyone knew or had studied that? [Reply]
Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin:
He seems to like to stay upright. He clearly is elite in run blocking and pulling across the formation.
My concerns would be quick speed rushers looking to get around on him. With his large frame, is he agile enough to get in front of them before they get the edge? I haven't seen much tape of him against those guys. Has he gone up against Bosa (Chargers) before and how did he do against him?
Not gonna take the time to look all that up. Just didn't know if anyone knew or had studied that?
He moves much better than his size suggests. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Detoxing:
He moves much better than his size suggests.
Clearly he moves well based on his tape above. My concern was more can he get in position quick enough (more leverage, if you will) to keep the speedy guys from getting around him on the edge and blasting Pat in the back.
THAT would be my main concern.
If he can handle or minimize that, then sign me up. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin:
Clearly he moves well based on his tape above. My concern was more can he get in position quick enough (more leverage, if you will) to keep the speedy guys from getting around him on the edge and blasting Pat in the back.
THAT would be my main concern.
If he can handle or minimize that, then sign me up.
Check the plays against the Colts. There’s one where he totally stones the rush end with his hand fighting. [Reply]
Are we under rating that he blocked for jackson who was somewhat bad about holding the ball, then running. He had to be prepared to hold a pass block awhile. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Dunerdr:
Are we under rating that he blocked for jackson who was somewhat bad about holding the ball, then running. He had to be prepared to hold a pass block awhile.
I’m not. I’ve mentioned it twice already. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Dunerdr:
Are we under rating that he blocked for jackson who was somewhat bad about holding the ball, then running. He had to be prepared to hold a pass block awhile.
Agree with this. Baltimore is a run first offense, but when passing, Lamar runs around a lot. More than Mahomes IMO, and on plays he shouldn’t be holding the ball.
I also think Brown could bring down his playing weight a bit to maximize his athleticism. The guy is a LARGE human being. But hasn’t been in the best of shape. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TRR:
Agree with this. Baltimore is a run first offense, but when passing, Lamar runs around a lot. More than Mahomes IMO, and on plays he shouldn’t be holding the ball.
I also think Brown could bring down his playing weight a bit to maximize his athleticism. The guy is a LARGE human being. But hasn’t been in the best of shape.
All that running around in Balt backfield could translate well to what Mahomes does to extend plays. Brown would find Mahomes style refreshing maybe after playing with Lamar. [Reply]
