Another Tweet Adds “Heat” to the Orlando Brown Jr. Sweepstakes
Dustin Baker
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Behemoth offensive tackle Orland Brown Jr. is heading somewhere within the next week, and many Minnesota Vikings loyalists hope it’s northward.
Six teams are purportedly interested in the 24-year-old Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman.
Naturally, the teams near the front of the sweepstakes are left tackle-needy clubs. After Riley Reiff was released by the Vikings in March, Minnesota skyrocketed to the top of this designation. Few teams are in direr shape than the Minnesota Vikings in terms of offensive line personnel. If the NFL season started today, Minnesota’s offensive line would have to look like this:
(LT) Rashod Hill, (LG) Mason Cole, ( C ) Garrett Bradbury, (RG) Ezra Cleveland, (RT) Brian O’Neill.
Alas, the NFL season does not start today, and a draft hasn’t taken place. That will shakedown in six days. During the event, the possibility looms that the Ravens jettison Brown to one of those six teams that need LT help. And that theory was amplified on Friday by Josina Anderson.
Some team — perhaps the Vikings — will part with a 1st or 2nd-Rounder to acquire the services of Brown. The Oklahoma alumnus has reached the Pro Bowl in two consecutive seasons — starting at the age of 23. Should the Vikings emerge as the team to land Brown, the ambitious dream is to solidify the offensive line for years in the vein of Steve Hutchinson for the purple and gold 15 years ago.
Brown is a left tackle by trade. The Ravens have an otherwordly left tackle with Ronnie Stanley, so Brown is considered tradeable. Right tackles generally earn less money that the left-siders, and Brown wants the big bag. A team will give it to him.
The clue to follow is mentioned in the Anderson tweet. If Baltimore lands rival Pittsburgh Steeler, Alejandro Villanueva, via free agency — Villanueva will play right tackle in Baltimore during 2021. Brown is then quasi-expendable.
The best trade scenario as it pertains to the Vikings was laid out by Bleacher Report last week. Minnesota would theoretically surrender its 14th and 125th overall picks in 2021, plus a 2022 2nd-Rounder — for Brown and the Ravens 27th overall pick next week. Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox described the transaction like this:
“Brown has expressed his desire to play left tackle, but the Ravens have Ronnie Stanley entrenched at that spot. The Minnesota Vikings, however, should be in the market for a left tackle after losing Riley Reiff in free agency. Unsurprisingly, Minnesota has reportedly shown interest in Brown. While Minnesota may not be willing to part with the 14th overall selection outright, it could consider swapping first-rounders with Baltimore and including other picks in the deal—the Vikings don’t possess a second-round selection in 2021.“
And then buh-boom: The Vikings have an offensive line that is signifcantly more exciting, featuring a lineup like:
(LT) Orlando Brown, (LG) Mason Cole / Unnamed Rookie, ( C ) Garrett Bradbury, (RG) Ezra Cleveland, (RT) Brian O’Neill.
That’ll work.
While the Vikings have poured resources into the offensive trenches with Brian O’Neill, Garrett Bradbury, and Ezra Cleveland (2nd Round choices or higher) in the last three drafts, the end result has been subpar — particulary for pass protection. Hell, general manager Rick Spielman tried to fix the thing for good in 2017 when he signed Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers. But that wasn’t fruitful, nor did it live up to the price tag.
An Orlando Brown trade would be the next big non-draft step to fix the doldrums.