Quarterbacks might be dominating the news lately for the Chicago Bears. Yet nobody is overlooking the other inescapable fact. The offensive line is in need of an overhaul as well. Too often in 2020, their front five looked unable to hang with the better defensive lines in the NFL. If they wish to compete for a Super Bowl, that is something that has to change.
The most troublesome spots have been on the edges. Bobby Massie hasn’t stayed healthy for two seasons now. His replacements were inadequate, to say the least. Charles Leno Jr. has stayed healthy but nobody would call him an above-average tackle at this point in his career. Both the left and right spots can be upgraded. So should the Bears be monitoring the market for one?
They may have such an opportunity in front of them.
Word has filtered out of Baltimore that starting Ravens tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was granted permission to seek a trade. While he is still on good terms with the organization, the problem stems from their unwillingness to make him a full-time left tackle. He’d been their primary guy at right tackle in 2018 and 2019 before he was shifted to the left side after Ronnie Stanley was lost for the season.
Brown played well in that spot and wants to stay there. It appears that isn’t in the cards for obvious reasons. So why is he frustrated? Brown will be a free agent in 2022. Left tackles tend to earn more money than right tackles in the NFL. For context? Six left tackles are making $15 million or more per year. Only two right tackles are. This makes it understandable. Brown just made the Pro Bowl as a left tackle. He feels his peak earning power is there. If the Ravens won’t let him play that spot, somebody else will.
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Orlando Brown against Montez Sweat was #fun pic.twitter.com/naPtUdi20x
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) February 10, 2021
Some Film on Orlando Brown. The Giants haven’t had a good tackle in a long time. I would definitely try and make a move on Brown. Moving Thomas to RT and having a beast at LT is exactly what I think we should try and do. #TogetherBlue pic.twitter.com/DwqlFh3bo3
— NyGiantscov (@nygiantscov) February 11, 2021
I’ll never forget when Orlando Brown smoked TJ Watt pic.twitter.com/SnEpULBIM5
— ï (@LamarJacksonEra) February 10, 2021
What would the Chicago Bears need to offer for Brown?
Some fans may fear his cost will be towards what Laremy Tunsil demanded from the Houston Texans. Two 1st round picks and change. However, Ravens insider Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic doesn’t believe it will go nearly that high. Most agree the Tunsil deal was wildly overpriced from the beginning and there are also other factors in play such as the drop of the 2021 salary cap. It’s more likely Baltimore will secure a pair of Day 2 picks.
“The potential return might more closely resemble what the Texans got from the Seattle Seahawks for standout left tackle Duane Brown in 2017: a second and third-round pick.
Orlando Brown, though, is eight years younger than Duane Brown was when he was dealt, so it certainly seems reasonable for the Ravens to expect at least a first-round pick in return.”
Imagine for a second if that was what happened for the Chicago Bears. They trade their 1st round pick for a quarterback like Carson Wentz. Then they trade their 2nd and 3rd rounders to Baltimore for Brown. Suddenly they secured their QB and possibly his blindside protector in the space of just two moves. Remember that Wentz is 28 and Brown is 24. With some luck, that pairing could last a long time in Chicago.
Of course, things are never that simple.
The odds are pretty good the Ravens will be able to get more than a 2nd and 3rd for Brown. Proven tackles at his age are hard to come by. That said, if this is the price range then it’s at least something the Bears have to consider. He’d be an instant upgrade for their running game and clearly can handle himself in pass protection. If GM Ryan Pace is thinking about all-in moves, this could be on the list.
