Cincinnati Bengals to sign former Patriots tackle Trent Brown to one-year deal
Former New England Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown is reportedly signing a new one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals following a visit on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The Bengals have been on the hunt for a tackle to protect quarterback Joe Burrow who is coming off of injury. The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line allowed 50 sacks on three quarterbacks last season, including 24 on Burrow in 10 games played.
This season for New England, Brown played in 11 games and made eight starts while battling various injuries. During the 2022 season, he played all 17 games, making 16 starts. The 2024 season will be the former Gator’s 10th in the league. He turns 31 before the start of training camp, which he’ll now spend with the Bengals.
Brown entered the NFL back in 2015 out of Florida as a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent his first three seasons in San Francisco at right tackle before leaving for his first stint with the Patriots. During that stint, he won a Super Bowl. Afterward, he spent two seasons with the Raiders.
He then played on a one-year, $9 million deal for the Pats in 2021 before testing the free-agent waters. He re-signed with New England for the 2022 season on a two-year deal for $13 million. So far on the veteran tackle’s resume is a Pro Bowl nomination from the 2019 season and a Super Bowl LIII victory.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.