Oakland Raiders: How Trent Brown will elevate Derek Carr in 2019
The Raiders kicked off free agency by signing the top offensive lineman on the market, Trent Brown. Let’s take a deep dive on how he will impact Derek Carr.
The Raiders wasted no time, when they signed offensive tackle Trent Brown just minutes into the start of free agency. Brown and the Raiders agreed on a four-year, $66 million dollar contract. The contract includes $36.25 million guaranteed and a potential opt out for the 2021 season. His new contract will make him the highest paid offensive tackle in the NFL.
Brown was the slam dunk, top offensive tackle out on the free agent market and the Raiders took notice. Adding an established offensive tackle to a group that already consist of Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson will definitely give Derek Carr more time to step into his throws and deliver passes to his new pass catchers.
Last season the Raiders predominately started two rookie tackles with Kolton Miller at left tackle, and Brandon Parker at right tackle. Both showed flashes of being a stable offensive lineman at times, but also went through rough patches keeping the pocket clean for Derek Carr. The pressure Carr faced was largely due to the lack of protection at offensive tackle.
Bringing in Brown to anchor one of the tackle spots will sufficiently improve the offensive line unit in pass protecting. He’s still just 25 years old and may have his best football ahead of him.
Brown, most notably coming from the New England Patriots, where he was groomed by offensive line coach, Dante Scarnecchia. Under Scarnecchia, Brown played the best football of his career thus far at left tackle, whereas he saw playing time at right tackle as a member of the San Fransisco 49ers.
Brown plays with a nasty demeanor and plays smash mouth football that Gruden looks for in his guys. He uses his enormous 6’8″ 380 pound frame to his advantage while driving defenders into the turf. He also has immense quickness for a 380 pound figure.
He started every game last season and only allowed 3.5 sacks. Brown was an essential figure to the Patriots playoff push, where he matched up against some AFC divisional opponents and fared quite well.
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Carr was sacked a career high 51 times last season. With that being said, the Raiders offensive line unit must show improvement in 2019 to give Derek Carr a clean pocket. Carr played his best football in 2016, when he was sacked just 16 times.
Brown and the Raiders offensive line unit will look to create more time for Carr and the Raiders rotation of running backs.