All right, everyone. Let's dive into this week's questions:
Question from Twitter follower and host of the Locked on Patriots podcast Mark Schofield: What are your thoughts on bringing Trent Brown and Trey Flowers back next season?
Answer: To really break it down properly, I'll address Trent Brown this week and Trey Flowers next week. While I'd love to see Brown be a Patriot for the next couple of years, I have serious doubts it will happen. Why? Over the past couple of years, we've seen a growing number of starting left tackles get PAID, and 2019 will be Brown's first -- and maybe only -- opportunity to receive a big-money deal.
In 2017 we saw the following deals:
Kelvin Beachum: $8 million APY
Charles Leno: $9.25 million APY
Andrew Whitworth: $11.25 million APY
Alejandro Villanueva: $6 million APY
Jason Peters: $9.25 million APY
Russell Okung: $13.25 million APY
Riley Reiff: $11.25 million APY
Matt Kalil: $11.1 million AP
This year we saw these deals signed by left tackles:
Duane Brown: $11.5 million APY
Nate Solder: $15.5 million APY
Taylor Lewan: $16 million APY
Jake Matthews: $14.5 million APY
Given this trend, the questions become:
- What will need to happen for the Patriots to retain Brown?
- Will Brown bypass his best chance to sign a big-money deal in order to remain with the Patriots?
- The Patriots could release Marcus Cannon and make Brown their starting right tackle.
- The Patriots could release Marcus Cannon and make Isaiah Wynn their starting right tackle while keeping Brown at the left tackle spot.
- The Patriots could trade Joe Thuney and make Wynn their starting left guard while keeping Brown at the left tackle spot.