According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, the Las Vegas Raiders traded offensive tackle Trent Brown to the Pats earlier this week while also swapping 2022 draft picks as part of the deal. The Raiders will receive a fifth-rounder in 2022 while sending the 2022 seventh-round selection to New England.
In order to facilitate the move, Brown agreed to have his contract restructured. Instead of being paid around $30 million in the next two seasons, the 27-year-old player will take $11 million in 2021 and become a free agent next year.
Brown spent the 2018 NFL season with the Pats, being a key piece in their offensive line and winning a Super Bowl with the organization. His good performances led the Raiders to sign him to a massive four-year, $66 million contract.
While Brown earned a Pro Bowl nod in his first season with the Raiders, he struggled to remain on the field during his time there. He missed the final five games of the 2019 NFL season and then played just five in 2020.
By parting with Trent Brown, the Raiders will get a significant cap relief and save around $14 million. This will open options to the franchise in free agency, as they were previously just $3 million under the salary cap.
The Pats, on the other hand, get a player they are familiar with who also fills a position of need. They will have no issues absorbing Brown’s $11 million salary as they are projected to have $66 million in cap space.
