The NFL’s legal tampering period is not even 15 minutes old and the New England Patriots’ first big free agency domino has already fallen. According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team will lose starting left tackle Trent Brown to the Oakland Raiders on a massive four-year contract, worth $66.0 million — including $36.75 million in guarantees. On a per-year basis, the deal is the largest for an offensive tackle in NFL history.
Brown joined the Patriots via trade on the second day of the 2018 draft. The team dropped 48 spots — from the end of the third to the early fifth round — to acquire the San Francisco 49ers’ former starting right tackle.