The Miami Dolphins have a continuing need along their offensive line despite the investments made at to the group in 2020. And it just so happens that the Baltimore Ravens now have a very good young tackle available on the trade market — the news broke yesterday that Orlando Brown Jr. is seeking a trade to a team that will play him at his desired position: left tackle. The Ravens, of course, have Ronnie Stanley locked in on the left side, so when Stanley returns from injury in 2021, Brown Jr. will be transitioned back to the right side of the line.
As Brown Jr. revealed just a few days ago, that’s not something he’s interested in.
“Be better than me” pic.twitter.com/5xHa6XiLZ5
— Orlando Brown Jr. (@ZEUS__78) February 5, 2021
And so the Ravens have conceded to Brown Jr. and his camp that they may seek out a trade to a team willing to play him on the left side of the line. Would the Dolphins potentially be a fit? And if so, what would the cost look like for Miami?
Do the sides fit?
In an ironic twist, the Dolphins may be able to get the best of both worlds with Orlando Brown Jr. If he’s willing to serve as a quarterback’s blindside protector, it just so happens that the Dolphins have the only starting left-handed quarterback in the league with Tua Tagovailoa. So Brown Jr. playing on the right side would appease his desire to be a blindside pass protector for his quarterback but still keep him where his body has the most muscle memory: the right tackle spot.
If that doesn’t appeal to Brown Jr., the left tackle position isn’t exactly settled in Miami either — rookie Austin Jackson had an up and down year.
Ultimately, trading for Brown Jr. and plugging him at right tackle would allow him to serve on the blind side and position the Dolphins to transition Robert Hunt inside at the guard spot. How Miami would choose to handle Solomon Kindley versus Ereck Flowers at left guard would be up to them; although Kindley did perfectly find in replacing Flowers after injury against Cincinnati and he’s exponentially cheaper, too.
Acquiring Brown Jr. and playing him at left tackle would open the door for Austin Jackson to swing to right tackle to continue the domino effect to kick Robert Hunt inside — or alternatively open the door for Miami to explore other ways to maximize their investment with the No. 18 pick in 2020.