Patriots look to have avoided disaster by letting this free agent sign elsewhere

When the Patriots began the 2024 offseason, there were a lot of chaotic events that seemed to define their immediate future. The decision to move on from Bill Belichick was an immediate game-changer, setting the tone for the likelihood of an unpredictable offseason ahead, especially when looking forward to free agency.

There was a long list of players set to test the free agent market, and because their fates were presumed to be up to Belichick as the team's general manager, it was expected many good players were going to play elsewhere this fall.

With Belichick out of the picture and a new regime led by Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf now leading the way, several players who probably would not have been re-signed received new contracts, and expensive ones at that, while a handful of Belichick favorites walked out the door.

One of those players, however, made it clear he wasn't interested in returning in 2024, even with the staff changes. Trent Brown had voiced his displeasure during his most recent stint in New England throughout last season, and despite the team's need for a solid left tackle, Brown was not asked to stay.

Given the issues along the offensive line, it seemed like a mistake to let Brown leave Foxboro, as he had been one of the best tackles the team rostered over the last several years. However, the latest update regarding his status with the Bengals looks like Mayo and Wolf's decision not to re-sign him was the right one.

Letting Trent Brown walk in free agency appears to have been a good decision for the Patriots

Since signing with Cincinnati earlier this offseason, Brown has voiced his excitement about his new team and the players he will get to work with. He will be one piece of an impressively sized tackle group for the Bengals, who have desperately needed an improved group to keep Joe Burrow from getting demolished by defenders.

But as excited as Brown was to join a current contender, he was held out of practices due to a nagging injury. It has kept him sidelined all the way into training camp, and it was just reported he cleared his physical with the team and was finally cleared to practice just days before the team's first preseason game.

Despite the clearance, he was seen on the rehab field during Sunday's training camp practice, which isn't a great sign for the state of the Bengals' offensive line.

Although he still has plenty of time to properly practice and be integrated into the game plan, Brown dealing with an injury that has kept him sidelined this deep into training camp makes the Patriots' decision to let him go look even better.

They're dealing with enough issues along their offensive line as it is, especially in trying to figure out who will be the starting left tackle, so having a clear starter with an injury that could prevent him from playing would be an added disaster.

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