Patriots unlikely to place franchise tag on LT Trent Brown
The New England Patriots acquired offensive lineman Trent Brown in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers prior to the season, and the former Florida star ended up playing a massive role for the Super Bowl champions as Tom Brady’s left tackle. But how much are the Patriots willing to spend to keep him?
Brown is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he’s a candidate for the franchise tag. However, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe speculates that the Patriots may let Brown walk rather than paying him $14 million next season, as they will be getting 2018 first-round pick Isaiah Wynn back.
Wynn, a former Georgia star, was expected to become New England’s left tackle when he was drafted 23rd overall last year. He missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn Achilles in the preseason.
The Patriots love having depth on their offensive line, and Brown was a huge reason why they were able to contain some of the best pass-rushers in football during the postseason. If Brown can be had at a reasonable price, they will almost certainly be interested in bringing him back. However, the 25-year-old may have priced his way out of New England with his solid play.
