Ravens need Mitchell Schwartz if Baltimore trades Orlando Brown Jr.

The Ravens could trade Orlando Brown Jr. and, now that Mitchell Schwartz is a free agent, Baltimore has an obvious option to replace him at right tackle.

Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has made it clear this offseason he wants to be traded to a team that will utilize him as a left tackle. He’s manned the right side for Baltimore in recent years and done so at a high level. Yet, general manager Eric DeCosta seemed to indicate that a trade is indeed in the cards for the Oklahoma product.

Even with the draft picks sent back in any Brown trade, though, the Ravens would be faced with filling a massive hole at right tackle if they make a deal. Lucky for them, one of the best players at the position in the league is now available on the 2021 NFL free agency market: Mitchell Schwartz.

On Thursday, the Chiefs released both Schwartz and former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher, leaving Kansas City without either starting tackle from last season. Frankly, that could make the Chiefs a possible destination for a Brown trade as he would be a quality and cheaper option on the salary cap.

But more importantly for the Ravens, Schwartz now being available could make trading Brown that much more enticing. Because not only could they get high-end draft capital, but they could also get a ready-made starter to fill the void left by such a deal.

Mitchell Schwartz would fill a hole for the Ravens, but he might also be an upgrade.

Since entering the league in 2018, Brown has been good. He was a mid-tier tackle as a rookie but has been among the 25 best tackles in the league over the past two seasons according to PFF (subscription required), including in 2020 when he was forced to slide to the right side thanks to the Ronnie Stanley injury. Yet, Schwartz might be better.

Though he had a slightly down year amid injuries and a lack of help around him this past season, Schwartz was the third and fourth-best tackle in the league according to PFF in the 2019 and 2018 seasons, respectively. When he’s healthy, he’s a truly game-changing force who can help set the edge.

Schwartz will be 32 years old when the 2021 season starts so Baltimore would be sacrificing some youth but their goal should be winning now. And keeping the integrity of the offensive line in front of Lamar Jackson is vital to that. Moreover, signing Schwartz and trading Brown would allow them to add more pieces through the draft.

While it may have seemed like the Ravens trading Brown was inevitable to begin with, there’s a chance it’s even more likely now. Schwartz hitting the market opens up the possibilities for Baltimore to keep a top-tier offensive line while also getting draft capital to set them up for the future with Jackson.