Tag: Orlando Brown Jr.

9 winners (Cowboys!) and losers (yikes, Josh McDaniels) from Day 2 of NFL free agency

The Cowboys’ defense got a LOT better. Meanwhile, Josh McDaniels should work on his people skills.

After the initial launch period of free agency, Day 2 could have been quieter. (Keyword: could.)

Two understated trades brought potentially valuable veterans to Dallas and Indianapolis. In Las Vegas, Josh McDaniels started to piece together the Patriots of the Mojave Desert. But his day had an awkward overall taste to it.

Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson pointedly defended his contract negotiating honor in public. Oh, and Aaron Rodgers kept doing … whatever it was that he’s doing. Not that we’re still waiting for developments here. No way.

Not us. Not ever! However, we can’t speak for various pro football personalities.

As we head into the official start of the league year later today, here are the biggest winners and losers from NFL free agency Day 2.

Star LT Orlando Brown Jr. remains unsigned in NFL free agency for this weird reported reason

Brown is one of the NFL’s best linemen, but it’s not so simple.

The arguably top player available during this year’s NFL free agency is Orlando Brown Jr. That’s because he’s a legitimate franchise tackle who is only 26 years old.

But as money flies around in Chicago and Denver, and intriguing trades are made by Dallas and by New York; Brown Jr. remains unsigned almost two days into free agency.

What gives?

Why hasn’t a player as good as Brown Jr. been inked to a deal yet? It, quite frankly, shouldn’t be taking this long to sign a player as excellent as him. Ah, but there is an explanation, albeit a peculiar one.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brown Jr. is still on the open market because of a hold-up with his position designation. Brown Jr. believes he’s a left tackle. The position typically receives the highest compensation amongst offensive linemen. Part of the reason Brown Jr. was once traded to the Kansas City Chiefs was because of his left-tackle conviction.

But the majority of the NFL seems to believe Brown Jr. is actually a right tackle. They still get a lot of money, but less than their left-sided peers.

It’s unclear whether Schefter’s report about Brown Jr.’s situation is accurate.

If that were the case, it’d be pretty silly for squads not to bring in an elite (and young!) talent like him simply because he wants left tackle money. In 2023, the distinction between both sides of an offensive front is largely irrelevant. Or at least it should be.

For what it’s worth, here are the top-five contracts, by fully guaranteed money, for both left and right tackles. (Data is courtesy of Over The Cap.)

Left tackle:

  1. Ronnie Stanley — $64.1 million
  2. Trent Williams — $40 million
  3. Laremy Tunsil — $40 million
  4. Cam Robinson — $33 million
  5. Andrew Thomas — $32.3 million

Right tackle:

  1. Ryan Ramczyk — $43.01 million
  2. Taylor Moton — $43 million
  3. Jawaan Taylor — $40 million
  4. Mike McGlinchey — $35 million
  5. Braden Smith — $32 million

Woof, OK. If this left-right separation is indeed the hold-up in Brown Jr. finding a new home, then it appears he has a point in staying patient. That contract gap is stark.

Time will only tell whether he or a team budges on their bargaining position first.

The 20 best remaining players after Day 1 of NFL free agency

Most of the big fish are gone, but a lot of stars and quality starters are just waiting to be snatched up.

I know it’s tough to process while in the moment, with new agreements seemingly flying around every other minute, but not every player is signed on the first day of NFL free agency.

In fact, if we took an honest look at the proceedings, many worthwhile stars, solid contributors, and depth guys are still sitting on the board after a whirlwind first day. Even if teams like the Chicago Bears were among the bigger initial winners, and even if squads like the San Francisco 49ers continue to get richer defensively, there’s still a lot of time left before the free-agent dust settles.

Let’s take a quick look at the 20 best players remaining in 2023 NFL free agency (by my estimation) as we head into Day 2. Remember: most of these guys aren’t likened to last much longer on the open market.

2023 NFL Free Agency: The best players left on the open market

The first day of NFL free agency was frantic, but there are still all kinds of good players left on the boards. Here are the biggest and best names.

Now that Day 1 of the illegal tampering period is mostly out of the way, there are still a bunch of players available for any NFL team willing to pay the price. We had a lot of movement on Monday, but the names left on the boards seem to indicate that we could have as much or more activity on Tuesday, and into the actual start of the new league year in Wednesday, March 15, at 4:00 p.m. EST.

2023 NFL Free Agency: Grading all the major transactions

So, if your favorite team hasn’t done enough for your preferences to this point, fear not — all NFL teams are doing everything they can to restructure and cut contracts to free up as much cap room as possible. The team you love might be ready to pounce as we head into the continuation of this frantic process, and if that’s the case, here are the best players left for those teams to choose from.

Our list here is based on available players left from Touchdown Wire’s list of the top free agents overall.

Former NFL exec Rick Spielman discusses Chiefs’ draft options at edge rusher, offensive tackle

Former NFL executive Rick Spielman spoke to @EdEastonJr about some of the #Chiefs’ options at the end of the first round at offensive tackle and edge rusher.

The Kansas City Chiefs front office is already making the tough decisions to reshape their Super Bow-winning roster for next season. The team has already parted ways with a veteran edge rusher and is now trying to adjust its offensive line depth.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently sat down with former NFL executives Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman to get their thoughts on the Chiefs’ free agency and 2023 NFL draft plans. The executives spoke on behalf of The 33rd Team and assessed the decision not to offer the franchise tag to Orlando Brown Jr. for a second consecutive year. Spielman also provided some insight on where Kansas City might turn in the first round of the draft.

“In my opinion, just because it was going to be the second time they tagged Orlando Brown,” said Spielman. “So I know that would have been 120% more than he was making from the previous tag. So that can get a little dicey when you’re looking at it from the front office standpoint, do you want to put that much money into one player for just one more year? So I think that they’re going to let him go out and shop the market to see what his true value is; I think they will stay in the game with that, you know, just looking.

“I know, from a draft standpoint, that they’re definitely going (to look because) Andrew Wylie is up as well. So I think offensive tackle is going to be a huge need for them. I think where they’re picking, which is at the bottom of the first round, you may be able to get one of those tackles like a Dawand Jones. I don’t know (about) Darnell Wright, the way he has performed over the combine and how he can seems to continue to spiral upward since the season and since going through the Senior Bowl.”

Spielman was most recently the general manager for the Minnesota Vikings from 2012-2021, with other stops including the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Miami Dolphins during the course of his career. He also weighed in on the Chiefs moving on from Frank Clark and their needs at edge rusher in the 2023 NFL draft.

“I think they also need some edge pass rushers too,” said Spielman. “They let Frank Clark go; they may monitor that situation, as well. I believe (Carlos) Dunlap is up as an unrestricted free agent. So when you see a guy like Nolan Smith perform like he did at the combine. A Keion White, another kid out of Georgia Tech that I think had a really good Senior Bowl. I don’t think he worked out or ran at the combine. But he’s got that physical stature that I think Steve (Spagnuolo), Andy (Reid), and I think Brett Veach all look for because I think he could be an edge guy, but also give him some rush inside as a potential nickel rusher.”

The Chiefs will need to make decisions quickly as the free agency period will bring about changes immediately that can help or hinder their chances to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

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Ex-NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum wouldn’t be surprised to see Orlando Brown Jr. back with Chiefs

Ex-NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum wouldn’t be surprised to see LT Orlando Brown Jr. back with the #Chiefs. | from @EdEastonJr

The NFL offseason is a busy time for front-office executives for all 32 teams as they seek to build a successful roster for the upcoming year. Each general manager will reevaluate their rosters to decide who to add or subtract from the team’s future in hopes of eventually putting together a Super Bowl-worthy squad.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently sat down with former NFL executives Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman to get their thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason plans. Tannenbaum spoke on behalf of The 33rd Team and explained why the Chiefs’ decision to not offer the franchise tag to Orlando Brown Jr. made sense and weighed in on the likelihood of him returning to Kansas City.

“You know, typically don’t try to tag somebody in consecutive years; it just adds to the angst to the situation,” said Tannenbaum. “So above and beyond the 120% premium you’d have to pay, I’m sure they’re gonna keep the conversation going. I thought the only reason they would tag him is, as Rick (Spielman) mentioned, you know, Andrew Wylie’s up, and he played very well down the stretch, especially in the Super Bowl, and a lot of people saying it had to do with the turf, but I thought he played well now. You got Lucas Niang that I’m sure we’ll go back out there.”

Tannenbaum held various front-office roles from 1995-2018, most recently with the Miami Dolphins as their Executive Vice President of Football Operations. During the discussion, he gave his input on possible options for the Chiefs at right tackle in the NFL draft.

“I think Darnell (Wright), when you look at the game against Alabama in particular, thought he did a great job against (Will) Anderson,” said Tannenbaum. “I think he’s had a really good off-season. Dawand Jones, I was on the field next to him; my gosh, he’s about as big a human being. For a big man sport, he really stood out. So I do think they’ll draft on the lines early. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Orlando Brown came back, but I think this will be the way to try to get a deal done in the most obvious way possible.”

The Chiefs’ decision not to franchise tag Brown Jr. could leave a significant hole in the protection plans for Patrick Mahomes. The duo has formed a bond over the past two seasons, and the chemistry may be tough to recreate.

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14 best player-team fits in 2023 NFL free agency

Orlando Brown screams Patriots and Javon Hargrave is perfect for the Bears, but what are some other top free agency fits this year?

In pro football, there isn’t something else quite like the lightning-quick speed of NFL free agency.

Money sometimes flies around with reckless abandon to average players while teams scramble to piece together the early makings of their roster for the upcoming season. Even just condensing this open market disorder into a long sentence has me disoriented.

With the 2023 NFL free agency period several away, we thought it fair to look at some of the best player-team fits this year. The franchise tag hoopla has settled down, so now we know exactly who should be able. (Check out our Christian D’Andrea’s forecast for all 32 teams while you’re at it.)

An elite blindside protector in New England? Sure. A workhorse receiver calling the South home? Why not. It’s free agency! Cats and dogs living together! Mass hysteria! Everyone who wants to spend has plenty of cap space and the capacity to make a splash.

Let’s break down 13 of the best fits for the 2023 NFL free agency period. All cap data is courtesy of Over The Cap. (All projected contracts are courtesy of me.)

Orlando Brown tabbed as a free agent Titans must sign

In a recent article naming a free agent each much must sign, Orlando Brown was the choice for the Titans.

With the legal tampering period for the new league year being just a few days away (Monday, March 13), we’re starting to get a better idea as to which players are actually hitting the open market.

The franchise tag deadline is officially in the rearview mirror, therefore any expiring deals around the league will need to be extended before March 15 at 4 p.m. ET, which is the start of the new league year. Otherwise, those players will be free to sign anywhere they please.

One of the more surprising players set to hit the open market is Chiefs left tackle, Orlando Brown, who was initially expected to be tagged.

The second that it was announced that Kansas City would not be placing its tag on the Oklahoma product for a second time, Titans fans everywhere began to salivate at the mere thought of possibly acquiring him.

And Aaron Schatz of ESPN clearly agrees.

He recently posted an article discussing one free agent that each team must sign, and he had Brown as the Titans’ dream addition of the offseason. Here is what Schatz had to say about the marriage of the two:

The Titans need help in several spots, including wide receiver and linebacker, but let’s start with a left tackle to help protect Ryan Tannehill. The Titans finished 30th in pressure rate in 2022 based on ESPN Stats & Information research and last season’s left tackle, Dennis Daley, finished dead last in PRWR among qualifying tackles. Brown, by comparison, ranked 18th.

Brown will be 27 years old this coming season, and there’s still plenty of good football left for him. He would be an important building block as the Titans look to return to the postseason. He was ranked by ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen as the top free agent this year.

The soon-to-be former Chiefs tackle would instantly provide some much-needed stability at the most important position on the offensive line.

This would also allow the Titans to focus elsewhere at the top of the draft, or they could choose to double down and bolster a weak offensive line that needs all the help it can get.

Brown is coming off a season in which he finished with an overall grade of 75.8 after allowing just four sacks on 769 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

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Chiefs will not franchise tag offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr.

Should the Commanders pursue if the Chiefs can’t agree to a long-term deal with Brown?

The Kansas City Chiefs will not apply the franchise tag to offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. for a second consecutive season, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

If the Chiefs had applied the franchise tag to Brown, it would have cost them over $20 million in 2023. Now, just because the Chiefs chose not to use the franchise tag on Brown doesn’t mean he won’t be back in Kansas City.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explained why the Chiefs didn’t use the franchise tag on Brown.

This is something the Washington Commanders know all too well. Washington used the franchise tag twice on quarterback Kirk Cousins [2016 & 2017] and guard Brandon Scherff [2020 & 2021], only to see both players walk.

The Commanders applied the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne last week and would prefer to get a long-term deal done.

Washington badly needs help on the offensive line. Would the Commanders pursue Brown if he doesn’t re-sign with the Chiefs?

Former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is now Washington’s offensive coordinator. Would that help the Commanders if they choose to pursue Brown?

Yes and no. Ultimately, this all comes down to money. And, if we learned anything from ESPN’s report on owner Dan Snyder last week, the Commanders may be “cash-poor” at the moment, meaning signing a big-time free agent is not happening this offseason. However, anything is possible.

As for Bieniemy, how does he view Brown? Does he view Brown as an elite offensive tackle worth spending at least $20 million per season on? Brown is not in the same class as Trent Williams, but he is young [26] and would represent an upgrade. If Washington signed Brown, they could move Charles Leno to right tackle for 2023 and slide Sam Cosmi inside to guard.

If Brown hits free agency, Washington should be interested. Signing him as a free agent would open up more possibilities in the 2023 NFL draft. While the Commanders would still likely look for a center, it lessens the need to find a guard or tackle in the draft.

The Chiefs could still re-sign Brown before free agency begins next week. If they don’t get a deal done, Brown will have a robust market and Washington isn’t in the position to outbid anyone in its current state.

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Here’s why the Chiefs decided against using the franchise tag on LT Orlando Brown Jr.

According to one report, the #Chiefs’ decision to not place the franchise tag on Orlando Brown Jr. stems from the tag number and a desire to find a long-term solution at left tackle in 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs made a surprising decision on Monday afternoon, opting against using the franchise tag on Orlando Brown Jr. for a second consecutive season.

That decision reportedly came down to two things. Numerous reports have indicated the restrictive nature of the franchise tag number as a reason for the decision. Being that this would’ve been Brown Jr.’s second consecutive year on the franchise tag, he’d earn at least 120 percent of the franchise tag number from the year prior. That means the Chiefs would be committing over $20 million to Brown Jr. in fully-guaranteed money. That number was simply too high for the team to take on with their current salary cap situation. It’d prevent Brett Veach and the front office from being competitive in free agency and keeping some of their own free agents.

There’s another significant reason that the franchise tag wasn’t the amicable option for Kansa City, though. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Chiefs have the desire to figure out a long-term solution at the left tackle position this offseason. They want to know who is going to be protecting the blindside of their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.

That doesn’t just mean that Kansas City is seeking a long-term deal with Brown Jr. either. If they’re unable to come to terms on a contract extension before the legal tampering period and free agency begins next week, they’ll explore all options per Breer. It’s a weak market in free agency, so the best options might come via the draft or even in a trade scenario.

Buckle up, Chiefs fans. The offseason is about to get interesting.

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