Bye, Brown? Patriots Options if Best Tackle Leaves
FOXBORO — While the New England Patriots are ushering in a new era under first year head coach Jerod Mayo, it appears they may also sustain a sizable loss.
The Patriots will allow the contract of offensive tackle Trent Brown to void at the end of the NFL business day. As a result, Brown appears destined to hit the open free agent market at the start of the league year in March.
When healthy, Brown is still one of the NFL’s top talents, with the versatility to play right or left tackle. Though he was limited to 11 games in 2023 due to injury, the ex Florida Gator (by way of Georgia Military) started eight games and logged 585 snaps on offense. Brown earned a 76.4 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, while yielding a negative run-block grade percentage of 11.7. His ability to stifle opposing pass rushers, while also sealing the edge to facilitate run blocking should make him a highly-coveted commodity on free agency.
While Brown’s absence will create a notable void for the Patriots to fill, the task of repairing a line which ranked in the lower half of the league in several key metrics will be daunting.
Within this context, here is a look at how New England may look to compensate for Brown’s expected departure.
Option 1: Draft a Starting -Caliber Left Tackle
With the No. 3 selection in April’s draft, the Patriots are widely expected to address their glaring need at quarterback. However, there is merit to forging a new foundation with a solid building block at offensive tackle. Fortunately for the Patriots, this year’s class is also considered to be rich with talent at the position. Should the Pats entertain the idea of trading down to maximize their draft capital, Norte Dame’s Joe Alt, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga top the list of potential Pats targets.
Best Potential Option: Joe Alt
Though Fashanu and Fuaga have exhibited Pro Bowl-caliber potential, Alt is as close to a certain franchise cornerstone as there is. The 6-8, 315-pound tackle posses perhaps the most impressive blend of size, movement and body control of any o-line prospect in recent memory. Wihle Brown’s skill set was best utilized in a gap-heavy offensive scheme, Alt has the athleticism and strength to thrive in a zone-based system — the type which new offenisve coordinator Alex Van Pelt is expected to install. The Pats would have to invest a top-seven pick to secure his services. However, Alt’s physical prowess and cerebral acumen all but ensure a maximum return on investment.
Option 2: Pursue an External Free Agent
In an ironic twist, New England’s top two free agent options at offenisve tackle wore Patriot blue last season: soon-to-be fifth-year tackle Mike Onwenu and Brown, himself. Though the Pats reportedly have interest in retaining Onwenu’s services, his return is far from a foregone conclusion. The team could decide to franchise the Michigan product at a hefty $19.8 million for the upcoming season — in an effort to prevent both he and Brown from leaving New England. While veterans such as longtime Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith and New York Jets standout lineman Mekhi Becton would immediately command a starting role, both age and injury make their signings questionable, at best.
Best Potential Option: Jermaine Eluemunor
Though Eluemunor may be a tier below the aforementioned options, his previous experience in New England (2019-20) may earn him an additional look or two this spring. For the past two years, the longtime swing tackle has been a reliable option for the Las Vegas Raiders, posting pressure-rates-allowed below 5 percent in both 2022 and 2023. His ability to handle speed-to-power defenders makes his best fit at right tackle. If New England were to bring him back for a second tour of duty, they may decide to move Onwenu back to his natural guard position, while shifting second-year lineman Sidy Sow into a spot at left tackle. In turn, they may also look to acquire a tackle via the draft, or a second-wave free agent signing. While that may seem like a lot of moving parts, the economical benefit of doing so theoretically positions Eluemunor to provide the best “bang” for New England’s “buck.”
Option 3: Promote From Within
In light of New England’s dismal showing along the line last season, the Patriots are unlikely to entertain this option. Riley Reiff, acquired during last offseason, spent the majority of 2023 on injured reserve and is headed for free agency. Calvin Anderson was sidelined due to a non-football illness, making his status for 2024 uncertain. Both Sow and fellow second-year lineman Atonio Mafi have show far more promise at guard than at tackle, while Jake Andrews appears to be the hair apparent to David Andrews (no relation) at center. Accordingly, New England’s options for an in-house solution.
Best Potential Option: Conor McDermott
Despite his struggles last season, McDermott has shown some promise when pressed into a prominent role along New England’s line. In 2022, he started all six games he played for New England, allowing eight pressures without surrendering a sack. Due to the often manic nature of New England’s ever-changing offensive front in 2023, the 31-year-old’s role was unclearly defined. Still, McDermott’s ability to align as a jumbo tight end may be of particular interest to new offensive line coach Scott Peters. He began his football journey as a tight end, playing the position throughout high school. He was converted to offensive tackle upon his arrival at UCLA. Whether it be in a starting capacity or not, McDermott could find a notable place in the Pats’ plans for 2024.
