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 AAV, but not guaranteed money. The former third-rounder thus earned $16.6MM in 2022, a figure which comfortably dwarfed his career earnings up to that point, but which 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 $19.9MM.
That had been 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 eleventh-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 which entered the year with plenty of question marks remain the most productive in the league. The 6-8, 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 towards new deals for defensive stalwarts Chris Jones and Frank Clark.
Well free agency just got better on the OL department.
Bears.
Surely a non-exclusive franchise tag would have been a better idea. Would not some very OL-needy team (post-draft) take Orlando Brown off the Chiefs hands, netting KC a pair of first round picks? In the worse case, having Brown play one more season at $19 million with no future obligations would not be the end of the world, considering where top-tier tackle salaries are.
Half billion dollar ten year QB deals do tie a team’s hands.
I don’t disagree with you about the tag, but you have the Mahomes deal wrong. That QB deal has given them tons of flexibility. The contract not only gets more reasonable as the rest of the QB market rises, but it makes it very easy to restructure and move money around whenever they choose to. And they’re not in bad shape. If they cut Frank Clark and MVS with post-June 1st designations, they could clear up $30 million in cap space with the snap of their fingers. Having to be judicious about contracts for second tier players is a small price to pay for having the best QB in football locked up at an increasingly reasonable price.
Until they have to renegotiate to keep Mahomes around, which will probably be the case once Hurts, Herbert, and Burrow all top Mahomes’ contract.
It’ll happen before the deal is up, sure, but that’s how it goes with even good QBs. Getting to do it with the best QB in the game, who’s already won two Super Bowls, is not a burden.
The Chiefs have not even started to pay for the Mahomes deal. The contract is back-loaded. The pain starts now.
Only sort of. They’ve avoided restructuring it so far, so they have major guarantees the next two years, but not really after that, which means they can easily spread things into the future if they need flexibility. The Chiefs managed to win the super bowl in a year when in some ways, they were eating their cap vegetables.
True, but the cap always eventually comes back to bite teams in the rear. There is no way they will not have to restructure multiple deals over time to accommodate Mahome’s deal.
Brown is not even a top 5 LT and he wants to be paid more than any other LT. He is a typical greedy ungrateful POS. He will sign with a bad team and lose for the next 5 years. He should take a deal that matches his ability, but these type of players never do. His ego has s bigger than his fat belly.
What’s the real deal on Orlando Brown’s play? Where does he fit in really as a tackle? Is he better at run blocking or pass blocking? Is there any room for improvement or is it a steep slope down from here?
If the Chiefs think Brown is about to fall of a cliff in terms of performance, a single year of franchise tag followed by a third round compensatory pick is not a bad result (Brown will certainly sign a contract with high enough annual value to earn back that third round pick).
He’s not a top 10 left tackle, he’s unathletic enough to worry what happens when/if he loses a step, and he’s huge enough to worry that there’s extra injury risk. If he’s insisting on top flight money, it’s understandable to let someone else pay it.
Is this the Chiefs GM?!
I’m not sure where the “greedy, ungrateful POS” thing came from but regardless- That 4 time Pro Bowler is gonna get paid. Mahomes barely got a grass stain and Pacheco ran all over the left side of the best DL in football in the Super Bowl and Brown was a big part of it.
LT is very much like the QB position – there’s about 3 great ones, 7 very good ones, 5 passable ones, and 17 just-a-guy(s). Brown is passable, but nothing special.
Thank goodness. Tired of his mediocre play and his contract demands.
Sign Lewan for a year or two and draft a stud LT.
Don’t know what the Chiefs were thinking by not tagging Brown. He’s about to become the NFL’s highest paid non-QB.
I’m no expert on contracts but I think WR is now the 2nd highest earner.
I think we’re about to see some $30 mil a year guys starting with JJ. Maybe we already do?
Good, let him wreck some other teams salary cap and get their QB injured.
Personally, I think that dude is in for a reality check when he sees where the rest of the league values him.
Maybe there’s one foolish team… there often is. But I would be surprised if he isn’t even offered the 20M the tag would have earned.
wouldn’t* be surprised
No he’s not. Not even close.
Whoops…
Mr Brown, Bill Belichick on line one….
Can anyone explain why the chiefs aren’t tagging and trading brown instead of just letting him walk?
They don’t want to get stuck paying him the tag $ after no one offers them anything for him. The Chiefs aren’t stupid. If they don’t think he’s worth it—and they don’t think anyone else does—then their only option is to let him walk. I’m not saying I agree, but that has to be what’s on their minds.
I am certain Brett Veach called around the league, inquiring about just that, before making this decision.
I’d guess the league prefers to try and sign him as a FA for around 15M, and take the risk he chooses another team… than giving up trade capital for one year at 5M more.
With that feedback, Veach decides to let it ride… maybe OBJ gets a reality check and comes back for a reasonable amount… or maybe he signs elsewhere and KC takes a swing at Taylor Lewan.
Also, we have to remember, if he signs elsewhere (which he surely will) KC will get a 3rd round comp pick.
So, its almost like they did trade him for a pick. Teams probably weren’t willing to trade more than a 3rd for his tag.
Chiefs will be ok.
Chiefs may also want to use the tag on another player. And the comp pick is also a factor.