Much has been said about the deal the Cincinnati Bengals gave offensive tackle Orlando Brown in free agency.
The deal, after all, was a pretty big departure from how the Bengals usually do things. And it’s certainly interesting to compare it to the supposed extension the Kansas City Chiefs offered Brown.
An underrated thing that hasn’t been discussed nearly as much is one simple word — availability.
As Bengals fans found out last year when injuries took out three of the team’s linemen during the playoffs, availability is the most important thing above all. Two of those guys, La’el Collins and Jonah Williams, have had consistent problems in this area.
Brown certainty has not.
Since being drafted in 2018, Brown has missed just one game, a pre-game calf strain last year. That durability and his age (26) makes it reasonable to expect Brown sees the majority of his current contract’s games.
Sometimes simple availability trumps accolades. Look at last year — the Bengals’ starting five led the NFL in snaps played together late into the season before the injury bug struck.
If the Bengals can do that again, headed up by Brown as an anchor on the left side, the offense should keep putting the team in a position to contend.
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