Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Just before the NFL draft, the Ravens and Chiefs pulled off a huge trade. Who emerged from the Orlando Brown Jr. trade as the biggest winners and losers?
The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs both figure to be among the top contenders to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVI.
Just a week before the 2021 NFL Draft, the two powerhouses made a trade that should send ripples throughout the NFL. The Ravens will send tackle Orlando Brown Jr., along with a 2021 second round pick and a 2022 sixth round pick, for a 2021 first-round pick, a 2021 third-round pick, a 2021 fourth-round pick, and a 2022 fifth-round pick.
This trade makes quite a bit of sense for both teams. The Ravens weren’t going to keep Brown past the 2021 season, after which he will be a free agent. Meanwhile, the Chiefs needed someone to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blindside. Though Brown has primarily played right tackle for the Ravens, he excelled on the left side after Ronnie Stanley got injured.
Let’s take a look at who the biggest winners and losers are from this earth-shattering trade.
Who are the winners of the Orlando Brown Jr. trade?
Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs quarterback needed someone to protect his blind side. That job is now Brown’s. As mentioned before, though Brown doesn’t have much experience as a left tackle in the NFL, he did fabulous last season after Stanley got injured. Brown is a better tackle than anyone the Chiefs were going to get with the 31st pick.
Orlando Brown Jr.
Brown Jr. rightfully wants to be paid like a left tackle. He earned that after his stellar performance last season. There was just one problem. He wasn’t going to be the left tackle in Baltimore with Stanley, one of the best tackles in the NFL, blocking his path to being a left tackle (pun intended).
With the Chiefs, Brown will get that opportunity to prove he’s a top-notch left tackle. Also, he’ll get the chance to play for a Super Bowl contender. If Brown plays well, he’ll cash in. Though an extension isn’t a part of the trade, it’s not outside the realm of possiblity for the Chiefs to work something out long-term after this season once the salary cap ceiling starts rising again.
Baltimore Ravens
Ideally, the Ravens would have loved to trade Brown to an NFC team. But with teams quickly solving their left tackle needs in free agency, they quickly ran out of suitors. After signing Kevin Zeitler, the Ravens weren’t going to keep Brown, especially with other needs on the roster.
While it’s true the Ravens need to fill some holes, they now have two first round picks to fill them. The last time they drafted twice in the first round, they got Lamar Jackson. Hopefully for them, it works out as good, if not better, than the last time.