BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 12: Offensive tackle Orlando Brown #78 of the Baltimore Ravens takes the field prior to the game against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
The Ravens already have their replacement after trading Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs in the form of former Steelers Pro Bowler Alejandro Villanueva.
The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs decided to make a blockbuster trade Friday afternoon to shake up plenty of 2021 NFL mock drafts. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was sent to Kansas City in exchange for a haul of draft picks.
The Ravens clearly had no intentions of extending Brown and he now gets a chance to launch the next stage of his career in Kansas City.
While Ravens fans may have been left wondering what the plans were, an answer came right away courtesy of ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Ravens have replacement for Orlando Brown Jr.
Hensley ireports the Ravens are all set to sign Alejandro Villanueva to step in for the departing Brown. The tackle has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 as the top teams in the AFC continue to trade starting tackles.
Thus, Brown heads off to protect Patrick Mahomes and Villanueva begins a new job in a dynamic offense in front of Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens now have the No. 27 and No. 31 overall picks in next week’s draft. Baltimore also added a third and fourth-round pick in the draft as well. As Hensley points out, the team adds these picks and a two-time Pro Bowler in Villanueva.
The real team in question here is the Steelers. Losses continue to plague the roster while the rest of the top teams in the AFC continue to make additions. That is not great news for fans in Pittsburgh in what should be the final year of the Ben Roethlisberger era.
Villanueva can also add some more veteran experience to this Baltimore team that is trying to make its first AFC Championship Game since the 2012 season.