Instant analysis after Bengals sign OT Trent Brown in free agency

The Cincinnati Bengals pivot out of the Jonah Williams era with free agent Trent Brown.

Cincinnati signed Brown to a one-year deal on Tuesday, locking down a 30-year-old veteran who has made a Pro Bowl (2019) and won a Super Bowl (LIII).

Brown arrives as the likely starter at right tackle for the Bengals next year, though his doing so is a nice short-term value because it doesn’t stop the team from selecting an offensive lineman in the opening round of the draft.

That’s a good angle for the team to take because while Brown is a quality starter, availability has been an issue. He appeared in just 11 games last year, starting eight. The year before that, 16 starts. From 2019-2021, he played no more than 11 games each season.

Still, that’s the type of give-and-take stuff a team will find at this stage of free agency at a premium position. The fact Brown has experience at both tackle spots is a bonus, though his struggles to stay on the field are a big reason one can’t rule out a Round 1 tackle.

If the main priority is to protect Joe Burrow, Brown does it nicely:

Trent Brown found himself in 1-on-1 situations on 88.3% of his pass blocking snaps last season, the highest rate among left tackles (min. 300 pass blocking snaps).

Brown allowed pressure on just 7.1% of those snaps, the 2nd-lowest rate among left tackles.#RuleTheJungle https://t.co/p26F38233Q pic.twitter.com/aEoA50GCFi

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 19, 2024

Trent Brown in 2023:

81.2 PFF Grade
334 pass-blocking snaps
17 QB pressures allowed
3 sacks allowed

pic.twitter.com/G75FFo8VGn

— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) March 19, 2024

There’s an obvious gamble with Brown, but it does follow the mold of recent prove-it deals that worked out at places like tight end.

In a perfect world, Brown can stay on the field and productive next season while the Bengals contend — and a long-term plan and rookie learns from the sidelines.