The Chiefs attempted to sign left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to a long-term deal last offseason, but he ended up playing on the franchise tag. That will not be repeated this year. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets that Kansas City will not place a second tag on Brown in 2023.
The Chiefs acquired Brown, 26, in a trade with the Ravens in the 2020 offseason. That allowed them to upgrade considerably at the blindside, but the move came with the understanding that a huge second contract would be needed at some point. That could have come to fruition in 2022, but talks broke down in the end, leaving the Oklahoma product to play on the one-year franchise tag.
Brown reportedly sought to become the league’s highest-paid left tackle during talks last offseason, and the Chiefs were willing to go that far in terms of average annual value but not guaranteed money. The former third-rounder thus earned $16.6M in 2022, a figure that comfortably dwarfed his career earnings up to that point but fell short of his desired terms on a multi-year extension. Had the Chiefs placed the tag on him once again, Brown would have been due $19.9M.
That was the expected path for the Chiefs, who have stated their intention of keeping not only Brown in the fold, but also right tackle Andrew Wylie. Instead, Brown will be able to hit the open market for the first time in his career next week, presuming talks don’t result in an 11th-hour deal allowing him to remain with the Super Bowl champs. He has spoken favorably about the prospect of continuing his career with the Chiefs, albeit while making clear that a hometown discount would not be on the table.
Assuming Brown is able to reach free agency, he will no doubt be one of the top commodities at any position. He was named a Pro Bowler for the fourth straight season in 2022, helping a Chiefs offense that entered the year with plenty of question marks remain the most productive in the league. The 6-foot-8, 363-pounder has experience on the right side dating back to (part of) his time in Baltimore, but his desire to be recognized as a left tackle drove his trade request and, no doubt, his contract demands.
Brown joins the likes of Taylor Lewan, George Fant and Matt Pyror as blindside protectors set to hit the open market. Lewan’s release from the Titans could lead him to retirement, which could add further to the bidding war likely to ensue for Brown’s services. Meanwhile, Kansas City would have a significant roster hole to fill if he departed, though money saved at the LT spot could go toward new deals for defensive stalwarts Chris Jones and Frank Clark.
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