Meet the Newest New England Patriot: Ben Brown

The New England Patriots filled the open spot on their 53-man roster Thursday. The Patriots added depth at center, signing Ben Brown from the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad. The Patriots continue to try to build depth at the position following the loss of team captain David Andrews.

New England now has centers Ben Brown and Nick Leverett on their 53-man roster, with Bryan Hudson and Sincere Haynewsorth on the Patriots practice squad. David Andrews and Jake Andrews were expected to serve as the team’s top centers for the season, are on injured reserve, and are finished for 2024.

Meet Ben Brown

Brown was a three-star recruit from St. Aloysius High School in Vicksburg, Miss., in the Class of 2017. He committed to play for Ole Miss over other SEC offers from Missouri and Vanderbilt. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Brown played offensive tackle in high school and was projected to stay there in college.

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Ben Brown redshirted his freshman season in 2017. Ole Miss made him their starting right guard the following season, where he would remain for the next two seasons. Brown moved to center in 2020. He struggled early but improved considerably as the season progressed. The Rebels moved Brown back to right guard to start the 2021 season. He tore his biceps in the sixth game of the season. The injury sidelined Brown for the remainder of his final season.

In his four years at Ole Miss, Brown played in 40 games, starting all of them. He started 30 games at right guard and 10 games at center, though he saw action at both positions several times in 2019.

NFL Career

Still recovering from his biceps injury, Brown (now listed at 6-foot-5, 312 pounds) was not selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. He signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. Unfortunately, Brown suffered another biceps injury in the first preseason game. Cincinnati placed him on season-ending IR.

The Bengals brought Ben Brown back for training camp in 2023. They played him at both center and guard, as they had done the year before. He appeared in all three preseason games for the Bengals but was part of their final cuts. Brown signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad, though he was soon signed to their 53-man roster.

Brown’s lone NFL game to date was Week 3 of the 2023 season with the Seahawks. He played eight offensive snaps at left guard. He was waived on Oct. 21 and returned to the practice squad in Seattle. The Seahawks released him on Nov. 26, 2023. Brown signed briefly with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad at the end of the 2023 season on Jan. 1, 2024.

On Jan. 16, 2024, Brown signed a future contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent this past offseason with the Raiders, who moved him exclusively to center through training camp and the preseason. Brown played 106 snaps during the 2023 preseason, allowed three pressures, one sack, and committed one penalty. The Raiders released Brown as part of their final cuts before bringing him back to their practice squad. He remained there until being signed to the New England Patriots 53-man roster.

Depending on how Nick Leverett performs, there could be an opportunity for Ben Brown to find a home in New England. Leverett allowed ten quarterback pressures in his first start last Sunday, a trend that cannot continue.

Fun Fact

Ben Brown’s grandfather, Allen Brown, was also an NFL player. He played two seasons as a reserve tight end for the Green Bay Packers. Allen Brown won Super Bowls in both seasons as part of Vince Lombardi’s first two champions of the Super Bowl Era.