Former Patriots tackle Trent Brown signs with Bengals on one-year deal

Offensive tackle Trent Brown has left New England, according to the latest report.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Brown plans to sign a one-year contract with the Bengals. The deal was announced by Rapoport on Tuesday afternoon as Brown was in Cincinnati for a visit with the team.

Brown, 30, first played with the Patriots after a 2018 trade from the 49ers. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-8, his size and strength was a critical component of New England’s offensive line.

His finest accomplishment with the Patriots came in 2018, when Brown was part of the Super Bowl LIII championship. In 2019, he made the Pro Bowl.

Brown left New England to sign with the Raiders in the 2019 offseason but returned prior to the 2021 campaign.

More recently, he was limited by injuries in 2023, missing six games and starting just eight. He foresaw a departure from the Patriots, saying that “we’re both looking in different directions” about his contract negotiations with New England in a March interview on SiriusXM.

The Patriots’ need at offensive line grows if Brown completes the move. Already a priority, the necessity of overhauling a unit that yielded 48 sacks last season (24th in the NFL) becomes even more important. This will be especially true if New England selects an early-round quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft.