After the final bell rang at the end of last season, there was a lot of talk about New England Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown. How much was left on his rookie contract? What would it take for the team to trade him? Was he simply a boom or bust type of player?
Trent Brown was a big project for the New England Patriots when they picked him with the third-overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. Coming from an offense at the University of
Trent Brown is an intriguing prospect both because of his size, and because of the risk involved with trying to predict how his career will go. At 6’8″, Brown is taller than pretty much every NFL offensive lineman, and he’s also the second largest player on the Patriots behind linebacker Dont’a Hightower. Brown also has a history of injury, having missed most of his senior year at the University of Florida due to a torn ACL and MCL, which he played around for the rest of his college career. In fact, the Patriots took a flier on Brown in the third round of the 2016 draft, even though there were concerns about his knee.
Trent Brown’s abilities on the football field should come as no surprise to New England Patriots fans. During the 2018 season, the imposing tackle had a dominating season, assisting Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in winning their sixth Super Bowl together. Brown, of course, benefitted greatly from the guidance of Dante Scarnecchia, the renowned offensive line coach for the New England Patriots.
Brown’s value has dropped significantly since he departed the Patriots for a big-money deal with the Raiders in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old is back in Foxborough for a second term, and he’ll be under a lot of pressure to protect Cam Newton’s blind side while also opening up holes for New England’s deep stable of running backs.
With his NFL career and financial future on the line, Brown smartly teamed up with an NFL veteran this offseason to aid him in proving to Belichick that bringing him back was a good choice.
Trent Brown will need a strong year in New England to resurrect his NFL career.
Brown took advantage of the chance to be coached by one of the greatest in the industry after an up-and-down three-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Scarnecchia, a 2015 seventh-round selection, placed himself in position for a life-changing increase by trusted him and buying into Belichick’s team-first philosophy.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, when they made Brown the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league, they didn’t receive their money’s value. The 6-foot-8, 380-pound lineman made the Pro Bowl in 2019 after signing a four-year, $66 million contract with almost $37 million guaranteed. Brown, though, obviously fell short of expectations, having only played 11 games that season and just five the year before.
In March, the Raiders put a stop to the experiment by selling their prized 2018 free-agent acquisition to the Patriots in a late-round selection exchange. Brown has plenty of incentive to play at a high level in 2021 now that he’s reunited with Belichick and is back in a scheme where he previously shone. He has to show he can remain healthy and execute blocking duties on a regular basis as an upcoming free agent in order to get a long-term contract with the Patriots or another NFL club.
Brown found an excellent mentor in NFL veteran Willie Anderson this offseason.
Trent Brown of the New England Patriots looks forward during a training camp session. | Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Brown, who is at a career crossroads, is well aware of the stakes. While his athletic talents are undeniable, there are legitimate worries regarding his longevity and reliability. In dire need of a rebound season, the Patriots’ projected starting right tackle teamed up with an NFL great this summer who understands precisely what it takes to be a dominant right tackle.
Brown found a mentor in veteran Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.
The 46-year-old former NFL player told the Herald, “He was saying, ‘I have to show people again.”
Anderson, a three-time first-team All-Pro and 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist, operates a mobile school for offensive linemen of all levels. He and Brown spent two days together in Atlanta three weeks before the Patriots’ training camp started.
So, what exactly did they concentrate on?
Because stretching and mobility are so important to Anderson, he made sure Brown spent 45 minutes focusing on those two things before doing any football exercises.
“I was blown away when I watched him play for the Patriots. “How is he doing this?” you may wonder. Anderson remarked. “It took me completing a workout with him before I saw his legs and realized, ‘Oh, that’s how he’s doing it.’ He’s got the legs of an Olympic sprinter, and he’s carrying that huge upper body.’
Brown pleased his instructor by persevering through the arduous core workouts. Overall, the Patriots linebacker looks to be extremely motivated and focused as he enters his most crucial season.
“He’s ecstatic to be back with the Patriots,” said one source. Brown’s mentality, exactly where he is and wants to be, has altered dramatically in the last year, according to his trainer, Lily Abdelmalek. “I believe the Patriots have a feeling of belonging. On and off the field, he’s just adopted a different attitude to life.”
If their superb tackle combination lives up to expectations, the Patriots should have a dominating offensive line.
Trent Brown on the Patriots’ offensive line: “It doesn’t matter to me whatever side I wind up playing on.” I believe we have two outstanding guards, one of the greatest centers in the league, and two of the top tackles in the league in myself and Isaiah (Wynn) on whatever side we play.”
June 16, 2021 — Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss)
Brown made care to seek guidance from a competent source when he teamed up with one of the greatest right tackles of all time this summer. Given how things transpired with the Raiders, everything he does to place himself on a road to success with the Patriots has to be seen as a good step.
Brown, of course, isn’t the only member of New England’s offensive line who will have to quiet critics this season.
Isaiah Wynn is in his fourth season with the Patriots, but the 2018 first-round pick’s future in Foxborough is unclear. Since the Patriots selected him 23rd overall in the 2018 draft, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound left tackle has only started 18 games. If he wants to get a long-term contract, he, like Brown, must remain healthy and maximize his athletic talents.
Both players have Pro Bowl potential, and New England’s offensive line, which has Michael Onwenu, David Andrews, and Shaq Mason on the inside, has top-five potential. Brown and Wynn, on the other hand, may lose time due to their durability problems, leaving the Patriots short-handed at the tackle position.
Hopefully, whatever knowledge Willie Anderson gave to his newest student pays off for the Patriots’ offense. New England can win a championship with a healthy, motivated Trent Brown, as we witnessed last year.
With all of Bill Belichick’s offseason improvements, don’t be shocked if history repeats itself.
Pro Football Reference provided all statistics. Spotrac provided all contract information.
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In 2016, Trent Brown was a second-round pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he spent most of the season on the bench, and never saw the field. He was miserable, and he was trying to get better. And he did, eventually becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion. In the lead up to Super Bowl 53, he channeled that pain to help one of his own.. Read more about trent brown position and let us know what you think.
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