Orlando Brown Jr. isn’t going anywhere. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly franchise tagged the left tackle.
Now, Kansas City and Brown have until July 15 to agree to a longterm contract or he will play the 2022 season on his franchise tender. K.C. brought in Brown to be its mainstay at left tackle after releasing Eric Fisher before last season. It’s worked out for both parties. Brown wanted an opportunity to be a left tackle and the Chiefs needed an answer at that position.
After K.C. sent four picks including its 2021 first round NFL Draft pick to Baltimore in a trade for Brown last April, the 6-foot-8, 363 pound former Sooner started 16 regular season games last season at left tackle for Kansas City and each of the Chiefs’ three postseason contests as well. Brown was selected to his third Pro Bowl last season.
While the final figure has not been set, Brown would earn an estimated $16.5 million according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher. Here’s what Teicher wrote for why the Chiefs put the franchise tag on Brown.
The Chiefs weren’t going to relinquish last year’s first-round draft pick in return for a one-year player. There was a sense when they completed the trade for Brown, then heading into the final year of his contract, and didn’t immediately sign him to a long-term extension that this was the likely outcome for Brown. The Chiefs, picking 30th in the first round this year, had no easy way of finding an adequate replacement for Brown if they decided to let him get to free agency. – Teicher, ESPN.
Teicher also touched on what Brown brings to the Chiefs.
Brown, at 365 pounds, is bigger and stronger than most players at his position. Generally, if he gets his hands on an opposing pass-rusher, Brown wins that snap. But he doesn’t have quick feet for a tackle and can struggle at times with speed rushers. That’s one reason some teams were shy about acquiring Brown to play him at left tackle. But he had enough winning snaps last season that the Chiefs felt comfortable going forward with him at a most important line position. – Teicher, ESPN.
Protection of the Chiefs’ biggest longterm investment, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was one of Kansas City’s biggest needs entering last offseason. That remains the case here as Brown proved his worth in Kansas City and the Chiefs certainly value Brown’s presence protecting Mahomes from the left tackle position.
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