Orlando Brown Jr. hires agent amid contract talks with Chiefs

Orlando Brown Jr.‘s career has gone through significant changes over the past year and change, resulting in the former third-round pick’s value skyrocketing. The veteran tackle took a step toward maximizing that value Thursday.

The Chiefs left tackle hired an agent, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Brown will go with Michael Portner of the Delta Sports Group. Brown going with Portner is an interesting decision, with Garafolo adding the 26-year-old O-lineman sought an agent without relationships with NFL GMs.

Although several players have made the decision to go without agents in recent years, most still do. This represents a key step for Brown, who is engaged in a pivotal negotiation with the Chiefs. The parties have begun the talks, and Brown’s new agent will run point from here.

Kansas City used its franchise tag on Brown in March, cuffing the fifth-year blocker with a $16.6M salary. The team has until July 15 to sign Brown to a long-term extension. Absent a deal by then, Brown will play the 2022 season on his franchise tender — one he has not yet signed.

Formerly the Ravens’ right tackle starter, Brown replaced an injured Ronnie Stanley on the left side to close out the 2020 season. From there, Brown no longer wanted to play on the right side. This led to the Chiefs sending the Ravens a quality trade package for the contract-year lineman. Kansas City tabled extension talks with Brown until 2022, and he is now aiming to be the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman.