When Trent Brown was signed at the beginning of the 2019 NFL Season, the then-Oakland Raiders made the behemoth tackle the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. The four-year, $66 Million contract was tendered in the hopes of Brown locking down the right side of the offensive line for the foreseeable future, allowing for Derek Carr to operate in the pocket against the high powered pass rushers of the AFC West.
Since signing that contract, however, Brown has only played 16 of the possible 32 games, and has dealt with a myriad of health issues; including ankle injury that kept him out of the culmination of the 2019 season and start of 2020 season, a positive COVID test, and a health scare from a pain killer injection he received before a week 9 game that resulted in an embolism.
There have been conflicting whispers on the Raiders’ plans for Brown entering 2021. Some reports are saying that the team wants Brown back, but will have stipulations on his weight. Others are pointing to Brown’s social media activity and recent workout videos as a way to create the perception that he is motivated for his next team.
Either way, the Raiders have a problem on their hands for what to do about the right tackle position.