Bengals: A divisional rival stands to get weaker after trade request

The Cincinnati Bengals need all the help they can get to claw their way out of the bottom of the AFC North. Despite the promising future Joe Burrow and co. possess, the club still finds itself in a division that sent three teams to the postseason in 2020. Thankfully for WhoDey Nation, the Baltimore Ravens, perhaps the strongest franchise of them all, stand to get a little weaker after a trade request.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, offensive tackle Orlando Brown is ready to turn in his purple and black uniform for some new colors.

After playing exceptionally well during his collegiate days with the Oklahoma Sooners, Brown fell all the way to the third round following a flurry of weight concerns and historically bad combine performance. The Ravens happily scooped up the promising, albeit wildcard, prospect and he has held down the right bookend position to begin his professional career.

That is, until last year. When all-pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley lost his entire season due to injury, John Harbaugh called on Brown to protect Lamar Jackson’s blindside. The 24-year-old did so admirably, earning a solid 76.4 grade from Pro Football Focus for his efforts.

Now, Brown wants to remain at the left tackle position. With free agency on the horizon after the 2021 campaign, the fact that left tackles usually command the bigger paydays than their counterparts on the right side is likely weighing on his decision.

Regardless of Brown’s motivation to want out of Baltimore, this should be music to the ears of Bengals fans everywhere. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s unit finished dead last in sacks last year and was embarrassed by the Ravens in both of their matchups. They’ll take an advantage any way they can get it.

No, Orlando Brown to the Bengals isn’t feasible

The Bengals have a dire need along the offensive trenches, so why don’t they pursue Orlando Brown? After all, Jonah Williams is fully capable of flipping over to the right tackle slot.

To put it simply, there’s no way the Ravens are going to agree to weakening their own roster and boosting the personnel of a divisional rival, especially one that just added a superstar quarterback. The majority of the league is starved for quality offensive linemen and Baltimore will be able to find comparable, if not superior, compensation from teams that are outside of the AFC.

Not to mention, the Bengals’ front office isn’t in a position to be coughing up the kind of draft capital it would require to land Brown. The roster has holes in it everywhere you look. Cincinnati would be better served to keep their selections and secure Burrow young, cheap protection. By nabbing a prospect like Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater, they wouldn’t be sacrificing talent by going down that route either.

While it would be ideal to add an offensive tackle of the caliber of Brown to shore up the protection, there are simply too many factors working against the Bengals acquiring such a talent. The orange and black faithful will have to settle for the fact that Brown could soon be out of the division, making a bitter rival weaker.