The New England Patriots entered free agency with a total of seventeen players about to hit the open market. Six of them have since opted to sign contracts elsewhere — among them one of the club’s biggest free agents both figuratively and literally: offensive tackle Trent Brown, who agreed to sign a record-breaking four-year, $66 million contract with the Oakland Raiders just nine minutes into the league’s legal tampering period.
Brown’s decision to join the Raiders has major implications not just on him but also on the two teams: New England will enter yet another offseason looking for a new player to protect Tom Brady’s blindside after Nate Solder was already lost during last year’s free agency.