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 O.city:
No one is trading two first rounders for the guy and giving him a big money contract. If they were, that would already be done.
if we are tracing 2 1sts why not go up and draft one of the top LT’s? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Easy 6:
I'm open to being persuaded, but isn't Browns biggest weakness pass pro?
Seems like a poor fit here at first glance
I'm not real big on trading up either, assuming Jenkins is there for us at 31... I know you're not big on him, but he fits our scheme best I can tell and will presumably make it to us without trading up
Honestly, that's the wrong way to look at it.
Brown really doesn't have any "weaknesses". He's an above average NFL tackle, on both sides of the line.
His "strength" is run blocking but he's a plus pass blocker. [Reply]
Originally Posted by -King-:
Or or they can trade him to another team. Get picks. And not help out their biggest road block to the superbowl.
Crazy. I know.
Of course they could. But if the Chiefs make the best offer, they're not going to say no just because they're worried about seeing them in the playoffs. No NFL team operates on fear. [Reply]
Originally Posted by -King-:
It's not about being scared. It's about being smart. If the next teams offer is anywhere in the ball park of the chiefs, why would you not take that one and force the Chiefs to take a chance in the draft? You could win 3 ways there, 1) you got picks from another team. 2) you didn't help the chiefs by giving them a proven player 3) chiefs might potentially draft a bust.
Now if the chiefs were to really offer much more than the next team, of course you take that.
Because that next team might be the Steelers, who have reportedly inquired. Or the Chargers, who have reportedly inquired.
Going by your logic, the Ravens would only trade him to the NFC, basically cutting their chances of getting a good return in half.
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
if we are tracing 2 1sts why not go up and draft one of the top LT’s?
Because even the best tackle in this draft has question marks. This is not a great OT draft at the top. It's deep as deep can be but the blue chip quality is lacking.
I would prefer not to trade for anything, not Brown, not a rookie. Just stay put and let the chips fall.
But if they're intent on trading away valuable picks, Brown is the only option that's close to a sure thing. [Reply]
Trade Scenario Sends Orlando Brown Jr. to Colts
DeCosta declined talking about any ongoing discussions regarding a potential Orlando Brown Jr. trade, but that hasn't stopped pundits from speculating.
With just over a week until draft night, The Washington Post’s John Clayton looked at some potential trades that would make sense. Among them is a scenario where the Indianapolis Colts trade a second-round pick for Brown.
"This year's draft is so different, with more uncertainty among prospects because of the shortened college season and scouting process, that teams could be more likely to trade away this year's choices for picks in next year's draft," Clayton wrote. "That has been true with a few trades already.
"If Indianapolis doesn't draft a tackle and instead takes an edge rusher in the first round, it could trade for Brown, who has told the Ravens he wants to play left tackle — a job that in Baltimore belongs to Ronnie Stanley. Brown could be worth a second-round choice, which the Ravens could use to draft his replacement."
The Colts are in the market for a left tackle after long-time starter Anthony Castonzo announced his retirement. The need grew more urgent when Indianapolis traded for Carson Wentz this offseason.
Draft analysts have said this is a deep offensive tackle class, but do the Colts want to take their chances on a rookie? Brown is a proven commodity who has shown the ability to play at a high level protecting the blind side. The Colts currently have the 21st- and 54th-overall picks.
But aside from a report back in March that six teams have shown interest in Brown, it's all speculation to this point.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who called the situation "complicated," said a team trading for Brown would have to be willing to give him a new deal. That's if they can agree on compensation in the first place.
While there's a chance Brown could be lining up at tackle for the Ravens this season, Baltimore Beatdown’s Joshua Reed believes the Ravens have some kind of contingency plan if Brown is traded.
"If they lose a Pro Bowl right tackle that can also play left tackle at a high level like Brown has proven he can do, even in a deeper than usual draft class at tackle, getting one capable of replacing a player of his caliber is going to skyrocket up their list of needs," Reed wrote. "Even for team like the Ravens who have a rich history of unearthing and developing players at every position on the offensive line, finding an immediate replacement that will have little to no drop off is easier said than done.
"It will likely require a swing at the position one day one or two whereas if Brown were to stay put, they could possibly wait until day three and take a developmental prospect that could essentially red shirt for year and be ready to start by 2022." [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
The Colts are the team that should trade for him.
So are the Chiefs.
And if you're to ask me what's more likely, the Chiefs sitting at 31 and taking w/e OL falls to them or trading for Brown, i'd wager they'd trade for Brown.
I STILL think that's the move. And if it's not, it speaks volumes on what they think of Niang.
I just can't fathom the Chiefs willingly sitting on their hands and just going, "hurpa derp, we'll just take the best OL that falls to us".
That's just not how they've ever operated. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Franchise:
The Colts are the team that should trade for him. I think he’s a good fit in their offense.
If they're not going to trade with the Chiefs, they're certainly not going to trade with the Colts.
One could argue that the Chiefs are the Ravens biggest road block with or without Brown.
The Colts right now are a borderline threat to the Ravens, maybe slightly below them. But with Brown and the rest of that offensive line, it gives them the ability to jump over the Ravens.
In essence, the Ravens would be creating an additional hurdle by trading with the Colts. I don't see why they'd do that at all. It's even less likely than trading with the Chiefs. [Reply]
And if you're to ask me what's more likely, the Chiefs sitting at 31 and taking w/e OL falls to them or trading for Brown, i'd wager they'd trade for Brown.
I STILL think that's the move. And if it's not, it speaks volumes on what they think of Niang.
I just can't fathom the Chiefs willingly sitting on their hands and just going, "hurpa derp, we'll just take the best OL that falls to us".
That's just not how they've ever operated.
I don’t think they’ll sit at 31 and wait for a LT. But I also don’t think they’re taking one in the first either. [Reply]