FOXBORO – For a person who’s played on one NFL team in his career, Trent Brown certainly feels well traveled.


In San Francisco, he had three different head coaches and three different offensive systems in three years. Prior to the NFL, he split his college time at Georgia Military College and the University of Florida. He’s played both tackle positions in the NFL and even started at right guard in college.


"I just know how to make it work wherever [...]

Mark Daniels

FOXBORO – For a person who’s played on one NFL team in his career, Trent Brown certainly feels well traveled.

In San Francisco, he had three different head coaches and three different offensive systems in three years. Prior to the NFL, he split his college time at Georgia Military College and the University of Florida. He’s played both tackle positions in the NFL and even started at right guard in college.

“I just know how to make it work wherever I’m at,” Brown said on Thursday. “That’s probably a good asset to have, being something like a chameleon.”

The Patriots certainly hope their newest offensive tackle is adaptable in Foxboro.

Acquired in a draft-day deal with the 49ers, for a third-round pick, Brown comes to Gillette Stadium as one of the largest players in the NFL. Listed at 6-foot-8 and 359 pounds, this 25-year-old could be tasked with protecting Tom Brady’s blindside in the upcoming 2018 NFL season. Although he’s predominantly started at right tackle in the NFL, Brown says he’s comfortable at either spot.

Currently, the Patriots have collected a laundry list of players to compete for the starting left tackle position opposite of Marcus Cannon. In the wake of losing Nate Solder in free agency, Brown could potentially be a gigantic piece of the puzzle here in Gillette Stadium.

“I’ve always played both sides,” Brown said. “I started out playing college left. I played left in high school. I really started playing right when I got to the University of Florida. But switching sides has never been a real big issue for me.”

Brown joins Patriots first-round pick Isaiah Wynn along with LaAdrian Waddle as the favorites to start this year at left tackle. Also in the mix are Tony Garcia, Cole Croston, Ulrick John, Matt Tobin and Andrews Jelks. Out of everyone, Brown is the most accomplished.

A seventh-round pick in 2014, he started two games for the 49ers in 2015. By his second NFL season, Brown was a full-time starter at right tackle for San Francisco. He started all 10 games last season, one at left tackle, before a shoulder injury cost him his season. Along the way, Brown’s earned praise from coaches and players.

Last year, Denver’s Von Miller called Brown one of the best in the NFL.

"He's the best right tackle in the National Football League," Miller said. "And he may even be a top-five tackle, period, in the National Football League. There's not another tackle who's that tall, that big and can move the way he moves."

This past March, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan lauded Brown saying, “He’s the best pass protection tackle I’ve ever seen in my life.”

As for the reason Brown was traded, it’s complicated. Reports out of San Francisco suggest that the 49ers were concerned with Brown’s conditioning. San Francisco also drafted tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round, ninth overall.

Brown said he wasn’t upset at the reports suggesting he was out of shape

“Nah. I mean, you watch the film, it’ll show I still did my job at a high level,” Brown said.

Since the Patriots will be his fourth offense in four seasons, Brown actually feels comfortable learning the new playbook. He hasn’t been in Foxboro for a week and already he sees some carryover from the things he did in San Francisco. He’s eager to work with offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and ready for the open competition for the team’s starting left tackle position.

“I mean, I was competing every year,” Brown said. “Every year I was [in San Francisco}, somebody was drafted or brought in so, you know, I’ve just got to rise to the level of the occasion and do what I do.”

Brown isn’t concerned about his health or conditioning and says he’ll be ready to go by training camp. As far as his performance on the field goes, he certainly doesn’t lack confidence.

“I’m an excellent pass protector and I get after it in the run game,” Brown said. “I don’t talk too much. You’ll just have to see on Sundays.”