Trent Brown’s Return Proved Necessary For New England Patriots’ In-Flux Offensive Line

The New England Patriots did not need another change of plans along the offensive line.

One week after the NFL’s legal tampering period opened, the organization needed free agent Trent Brown.

The 6-foot-8, 380-pound right tackle re-signed with New England on Monday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. His agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter that it is a two-year contract.

Brown had visited the Seattle Seahawks prior to returning to the team that acquired him via respective trades with the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders in 2018 and 2021.

Upon arriving back in Foxborough last March, the University of Florida product had agreed to a restructure that removed 2023 from the books. His previous record-setting deal became a one-year pact worth up to $11 million with a $6.5 million base salary, $2 million in per-game roster bonuses and a $500,000 weight bonus.

And also a fresh start in a familiar place.

“I think he’s comfortable with all the communication and techniques and adjustments and so forth,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said of Brown during training camp. “That wasn’t the case the beginning of 2018, nor would you expect it to be for any player that’s new to our program. He’s way ahead of where he was, and that maturity and experience has manifested itself in positive leadership and I would say insight for other players. He’s been with three organizations. And again, he has some good perspective on a lot of things, especially the New England Patriots.”

Brown went on to make nine starts last regular season. He did so despite suffering a calf strain in the opener that ultimately sent him to injured reserve until November.

Those starts brought 490 snaps for the Super Bowl LIII champion and 2019 Pro Bowler. No holding penalties were accepted over that span. Instead, Pro Football Focus charted Brown’s pass protection for allowing one sack, four hits and four hurries on rookie quarterback Mac Jones.

The line has since shifted. In addition to former position coach Carmen Bricillo, nearly 1,800 combined downs from the previous campaign are no longer there.

New England saw starting left guard Ted Karras depart for the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-year, $18 million deal last Monday. The following afternoon, starting right guard Shaq Mason departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick and north of $6 million in cap space.

Brown, who turns 29 in April, will play a towering part in what stays the same.

The veteran bookend projects to stay on the right side with fifth-year option Isaiah Wynn at left tackle, captain David Andrews at center and versatile 2020 draft choice Mike Onwenu at either starting guard spot.

One spot remains to be filled. It could be by the end of next month. New England currently owns the rights to seven selections, including No. 21 overall in the first round, No. 54 overall in the second round and No. 85 overall in the third round.

But for an offensive line that took steps backward, retaining Brown proved to be a necessary step forward.