Orlando Brown trade NFL odds: 49ers, Chargers, Colts, Bears top contenders to deal for Ravens Pro Bowl offensive tackle
Baltimore Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown has requested a trade. There won't be a lack of suitors.
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While the story line of this very short NFL offseason so far has been on potential quarterback movement, QBs are only as good as their offensive lines. Just ask Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson. On Wednesday, news broke that Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has asked for a trade and the team has given his camp permission to seek out a potential deal – CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora was the first to report. SportsLine offers odds on where the 24-year-old Brown might land.
Few teams draft better than the Ravens, and they absolutely stole Brown with the No. 83 overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Oklahoma – he was two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year with the Sooners. For some reason, Brown (who didn't do well at the NFL Combine) was the ninth offensive tackle drafted in 2018 but has turned into arguably the best one of that class. Incidentally, Baltimore took Pro Bowl QB Lamar Jackson at No. 32 in that draft and Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews at No. 85 overall. Wow.
Brown began his pro career at right tackle and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019. In Week 8 this season, Ravens Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley – maybe the best in business and who got a five-year, $98.75 million extension with $58 million in new guarantees during the year – suffered a season-ending injury. Brown shifted to left tackle and made another Pro Bowl.
Brown's father, the late Orlando "Zeus" Brown who played in the NFL from 1993-2005 (including several seasons with Baltimore), always wanted Orlando Jr. to be a left tackle. Orlando Jr. wants to stay there because of it, and that's not realistic with Stanley around in Baltimore.
"It's never been about the money," Orlando Brown Jr. wrote on Twitter. "I'm so appreciative for this organization and all my teammates. I couldn't thank (GM Eric) DeCosta enough, he's a incredible football mind and one the best men I know. I want to live out the dream my dad had for me."
The Ravens certainly don't have to trade Brown as he's on an incredibly team-friendly deal with a cap hit of just $1.14 million in 2021 on the final year of his rookie contract. Because Brown wasn't drafted in Round 1, the Ravens don't have a fifth-year rookie option on his contract. Thus, Brown would become an unrestricted free agent next winter unless he signed a long-term deal with Baltimore or the team slapped the franchise tag on him.
What could Brown bring back in value? In 2019 when Houston acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil from Miami, the Texans gave up two first-rounders (2020 and 2021) and a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. That 2021 pick will be No. 3 overall this year.
Just about every team in the NFL could use Brown. After watching what happened to Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs immediately come to mind – but there's almost no way the Ravens will trade Brown to the AFC favorites because Baltimore is still good enough to reach a Super Bowl and won't be helping the Chiefs. Kansas City left tackle Eric Fisher is in the last year of his contract and coming off of an Achilles injury. Also, forget about Baltimore trading Brown inside the AFC North.
Indianapolis has a glaring hole at left tackle with the retirement of Anthony Castonzo. The LA Chargers need a blindside protector for quarterback and Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert, and Sam Tevi was one of the lowest-graded left tackles in the NFL last season. The Bolts have the No. 13 overall pick in this year's draft and perhaps could add receiver Mike Williams to the deal – Baltimore badly needs help at wideout.
Miami still hasn't replaced Tunsil capably and has the No. 3 and No. 18 overall picks in the 2021 draft. Jacksonville won't give up No. 1 overall for Brown as the team will be taking Trevor Lawrence there, but the Jags also have No. 25 and a ton of extra picks both this year and next.
San Francisco acquired left tackle Trent Williams from Washington last offseason and Williams played quite well for the Niners in 2020 but is now a free agent. The Niners could start any offer with the No. 12 overall pick this year, and they are in win-now mode. Chicago badly needs offensive line help but has to get its quarterback situation sorted first.
Seattle QB Russell Wilson has made it known he's tired of getting hit, but Seattle doesn't have much draft capital after acquiring Jets Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams last year for two first-round picks.
Some teams at the top of the 2020 draft, like Miami, Cincinnati, Atlanta, etc., could simply opt to take Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell if available instead of giving up assets for Brown as Sewell is considered one of the top prospects at the position in years.
Baltimore is currently a +1200 fourth favorite at William Hill Sportsbook to win Super Bowl 56.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: If traded, which team will Orlando Brown play for in 2021?
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