After acquiring Orlando Brown Jr. in a contract year, the Chiefs used their franchise tag on their new left tackle. While Brown playing 2022 on the tag is in play, the Chiefs are set to begin negotiations with the fifth-year blocker, GM Brett Veach said.
Kansas City kept Brown off the market via the $16.7MM offensive line tag, but the former Ravens right tackle will be targeting a deal that averages more in annual value. A deal north of $20MM per year will be the target of Brown’s camp, a group that has yet to fully form going into these negotiations.
Former NFL O-lineman Jammal Brown serves as Orlando Brown’s mentor, and NFL.com’s Garafolo adds (video link) they are meeting with agents and advisors to determine which path to take ahead of these pivotal negotiations. As of now, Orlando Brown is self-represented.
Brown, who turned 26 this week, maneuvered to reach this point. After filling in for Ronnie Stanley at left tackle to close out the 2020 season, Brown communicated to the Ravens he wanted to stay at that position. With Stanley entrenched at the spot in Baltimore, the Ravens traded their three-plus-year right tackle to the Chiefs for first-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks. The Chiefs also acquired a 2021 second-rounder in that swap, softening the blow. But the team’s trade compensation will come up in Brown’s negotiations, putting the mammoth blocker in good position to cash in.
Kansas City tabled an extension to 2022, making that plan immediately after acquiring Brown, and only has one O-lineman (left guard Joe Thuney) tied to a lucrative long-term contract. The Tyreek Hill trade and decision not to offer Tyrann Mathieu an extension cleared funds for a Brown re-up.
The Jaguars just gave Cam Robinson a deal averaging $17.6MM annually. Brown has three Pro Bowls to Robinson’s zero, putting the former in position to become the NFL’s fourth $20MM-per-year O-lineman. Trent Williams, whom the Chiefs aggressively pursued before the 49ers submitted their $23MM-per-year offer, joins David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil as the league’s $20MM-AAV blockers. All three earn at least $22MM per year, giving Brown a target. The Chiefs sit near the top of the league with $18MM-plus in cap space; they have until July 15 to hammer out an extension.