Chiefs Frustrated With LT Orlando Brown Jr.
The Chiefs and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. were unable to agree to an extension prior to the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign multi-year deals. That development has reportedly led to Kansas City becoming frustrated with its 2021 trade acquisition.
“There was frustration and there was disappointment,” Jeffri Chadiha of the NFL Network recently said (via Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star). “They really like Orlando Brown Jr., they love having him be a part of this team, but the money he was asking for was too high for them. They feel like they don’t want to not have stability at left tackle here, but they also don’t want to pay top-of-the-market money for a player that they don’t think is the best player at his position in the NFL.”
Of course, the frustration is probably mutual. While the Chiefs proposed a six-year, $139MM contract, that featured a bloated $40MM salary in the sixth and final year of the deal that was never intended to be paid and was only included to give Brown a market-topping average annual value of over $23MM. The AAV over the first five years was around $18MM, which would have stood eighth among tackles.
On the other hand, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the Chiefs’ offer did include $38MM in full guarantees and another $14.25MM in injury guarantees (which would have converted to a full guarantee in 2024). That $38MM mark is critical because it represents more than what Brown would earn under two consecutive franchise tags — $16.7MM in 2022 and $19.9MM in 2023 — and that is often a key to working out an extension for tagged players.
Brown, though, was pushing for a $40MM signing bonus and full guarantees beyond that, along with a “true” AAV of $25MM. It is easy to see why the Chiefs did not want to go there for a very good player who can dominate lesser defenders but who can look more pedestrian against quality competition. Though he excels at run-blocking thanks largely to his mauling style of play, his pass-block win rate in 2021 — his first full year on the blindside — was outside the top-40 at his position. That is especially concerning since, in the Chiefs’ high-flying offense, he is generally not asked to sustain blocks for very long.
There is certainly a chance that Brown, 26, will continue to improve, and even if he is hit with the franchise tag again in 2023, he will have the chance to finally hit the open market the following year, when he is just 28 years old. At that time, the salary cap is expected to be considerably higher than it is now, so as long as he can avoid a major injury and at least sustain his current level of performance, Brown’s patience could be rewarded in a big way.
For now, it is unclear if he will report to training camp, which opens later this week. Head coach Andy Reid, during a press conference on Friday, said, “I don’t know that. So I don’t know whether he’s going to be here or not. If he’s here, great. And if he’s not, we move on. That’s how we’ve done it in the past. This isn’t the first time I’ve been through something like this” (via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk).
Brown will almost certainly sign his tender at some point, though Chadiha did indicate that the three-time Pro Bowler may be willing to extend his holdout into Week 1.
Per Chadiha, “one front office person said, ‘[t]his isn’t the same guy that we traded for.’ The feeling there is that when they got him from Baltimore is that he was going to be a team player and work with them on a team-friendly type of deal. That was not the case. Right now we’re looking at a situation where Orlando Brown probably won’t be there for training camp and may not be there for Week 1.”
Franchise Tag Roundup: Bengals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins Table Talks To 2023
For the first time since 2018, the summer franchise tag deadline day did not produce an extension. The past three years brought deadline-day deals for Taylor Moton, Derrick Henry, Chris Jones, Grady Jarrett and Robbie Gould. None of the four teams who still had tagged players could hammer out a deal Friday, however.
Bengals safety Jessie Bates, Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki and Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz remain attached to their franchise tag prices ($12.9MM, $16.7MM, $10.9MM, $10.9MM, respectively). They are prevented from negotiating with their teams again until the 2022 season ends. The four teams can apply second franchise tags to these players in 2023, at 120% of their 2022 tag prices.
- The Chiefs and Brown came closest to a deal. Although the Chiefs reached an extension agreement with Frank Clark upon trading a first-round pick and change for him in 2019, they postponed Brown negotiations last year. When the sides came to the table, after Brown earned a Pro Bowl nod for his first season as a full-time left tackle, the fifth-year blocker had a new agent and wanted a deal that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman. The Chiefs were willing to go there, but on their terms. What amounts to a dummy year in the contract’s final season led Brown to turn down a six-year, $139MM extension offer. Although failed tag talks often lead to separations the following year, it would surprise if the Chiefs — considering the compensation they parted with for Brown in 2021 — did not make a strong effort to extend Brown in 2023.
- Less clarity emerged with the other three tag negotiations, but the Bengals‘ five-year offer and reported guarantee of around $17MM — which would be a fringe top-10 mark at the safety position — did not bring Bates to sign an extension. The fifth-year defender wanted to be the NFL’s highest-paid safety, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Minkah Fitzpatrick moved that number to $18.2MM per year this summer. Bates expressed interest in re-signing with the Bengals in 2021, after he posted a strong 2020 season. Following a less impactful 2021 regular season, Bates rebounded with critical playoff contributions. The Bengals, who drafted safety Daxton Hill in Round 1 and have Vonn Bell under contract for one more season, may be willing to let Bates test free agency a year from now. But Bell’s contract-year status may well keep Bates in the fold beyond 2022.
- A lot of Schultz news came out this offseason, including a late rumor of a possible deal coming to fruition. But scant optimism about a Cowboys long-term deal surfaced. Dallas cuffed its top tight end and, with Schultz having signed his tender, he can be fined daily for not reporting to training camp. Although Schultz left OTAs to make a point about negotiations, he showed for Cowboys minicamp. The sides, however, appeared far apart. Ahead of Friday’s deadline, they had not negotiated in weeks. Contract length was an issue for Schultz’s camp. While Dak Prescott‘s contract is an exception, the Cowboys prefer five- or six-year extensions. No deadline-day magic occurred, and Schultz may become a bigger part of Dallas’ offense, with the team having traded Amari Cooper shortly after tagging its tight end.
- It does not sound like substantial Gesicki-Dolphins talks occurred this offseason. Though, Gesicki was interested in an extension. After the former second-round pick broke through for a 703-yard, six-touchdown 2020 season, the team did not make an extension ahead of his 2021 contract year a priority. Gesicki then posted a 780-yard slate. That was enough to move Miami to keep the Penn State product off the free agent market. Gesicki should play a key part in a critical Tua Tagovailoa season, but with Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year contract now on Miami’s books, other Dolphins skill players may be affected.
The Browns (David Njoku), Buccaneers (Chris Godwin), Jaguars (Cam Robinson) and Packers (Davante Adams) saw their tagged players land extensions. Adams’ money, of course, came from the Raiders, who gave their new All-Pro weapon a five-year, $140MM extension — a deal that impacted Hill’s Chiefs talks and one that has two lofty nonguaranteed salaries in its final two years — after Adams voiced a preference to reunite with Derek Carr out west. Njoku becoming the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid tight end, after not matching either of Gesicki or Schultz’s best seasons, likely became an issue in the Cowboys and Dolphins’ respective negotiations.
Bates and Brown have not signed their tenders. This would allow each to skip training camp without being fined. The 2020 CBA prevents teams from waiving fines for holdouts, pointing to Gesicki and Schultz showing up. Bates is not expected to attend camp, and Brown hinted at staying away for a while. The Bengals and Chiefs’ tagged performers have until Nov. 15 to sign their tenders, or they cannot play in 2022. Multiple defensive linemen (Sean Gilbert and Dan Williams, the latter a Chiefs tag recipient) followed through with skipping seasons after being tagged in the late 1990s, but Le’Veon Bell (2018) is the only player to pass on a guaranteed salary by skipping a full season while attached to the tag this century.
Latest On Chiefs’ Orlando Brown Jr. Offer
It appears the Chiefs and Orlando Brown Jr. will reassess this situation in 2023. After Brown’s agent indicated the Pro Bowl left tackle will not reach a long-term agreement with the Chiefs by Friday’s 3pm CT deadline, more details on Kansas City’s offer have emerged.
The Chiefs are believed to have offered a market-topping deal, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes the proposal contained a lofty final-year payment that inflated the average annual value to that place. A $40MM-plus salary existed in the 2027 season, lifting the contract’s value past Trent Williams‘ $23MM-per-year figure (Twitter link).
That strategy worked for the Dolphins with Tyreek Hill and the Raiders with Davante Adams, who have massive nonguaranteed salaries in the final years of their respective contracts to elevate the AAVs to market-changing levels. Brown’s camp sought more security.
The Chiefs’ offer contained $91MM over the first five years. While each year of contracts factors into AAV figures, the Brown offer averaged $18.2MM through five years — a mark that would have stood eighth among tackles. The dummy year interfered with Brown’s hopes here, Garafolo adds (on Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes the offer’s first five years included $95MM and adds the deal featured a $30.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link). The full offer was six years, $139MM, narrowly topping Williams’ six-year, $138.1MM contract.
Kansas City traded its 2021 first-round pick for Brown. Although that deal did include Baltimore’s second-round pick coming back — used to select Nick Bolton — Kansas City gave up a big haul to acquire the Pro Bowl blocker. The Chiefs will have Brown attached to the $16.7MM franchise tender — one he has not signed. The fifth-year tackle teased a holdout into the regular season, surely as an effort to convince the Chiefs to up their pre-deadline offer. Brown’s $16.7MM figure will be guaranteed when he signs the tender. A second Brown tag would cost the Chiefs almost $20MM in 2023.
Barring restructures for Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones, the Chiefs will soon have Brown’s tender and their top offensive and defensive players tied to top-five NFL cap figures. Mahomes’ will spike from $7.4MM in 2021 to $35.7MM this year. Jones’ will climb from $8.5MM in 2021 to $29.4MM. With Brown’s tag on the books alongside these cap numbers, it will represent a new-look Chiefs payroll.
Chiefs, Orlando Brown Jr. Fail To Reach Agreement On New Contract
With the franchise tag deadline hours away now, the news many were expecting regarding Orlando Brown Jr. has come. The three-time Pro Bowl left tackle will not sign a long-term extension with the Chiefs today, setting up the possibility of a training camp holdout.
That wasn’t for a lack of effort on the team’s part, however. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the Chiefs “made a final run at” finalizing a new contract before today’s deadline. He adds that Kansas City was willing to include fully-guaranteed money through 2023, but the desire for “more security” from Brown’s camp led to a continuation of the current stalemate (Twitter link).
To that point, Garafolo’s colleague Tom Pelissero notes that the Chiefs’ top offer in terms of both signing bonus and average salary came on a six-year contract; the lack of guarantees “over the life of the deal,” though, led to its falling through. Brown’s agent, Michael Portner, said, “We got really close. We enjoyed dealing with the Chiefs and we understand their position as well. [But] I’m not gonna let these athletes sign a flashy contract without the substance or security there” (Twitter link).
Adding further to the details of the team’s offer, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Brown turned down “more based on average per year than Trent Williams.” The 49ers left tackle is currently on a deal averaging $23MM per season, making him one of just three o-lineman above the $20MM-per-annum mark. It had long been known that Brown – who took on full-time NFL blindside duties just this season, his first in Kansas City – was looking for a contract which would place him at the top of the market. The fact that he would turn down an offer allowing him to reach that level speaks to the gap between the two parties on the contract’s overall structure.
Brown, like Bengals safety Jessie Bates, didn’t sign his franchise tender (valued at $16.7MM). Since he is not under contract, he will not be subject to fines if he does indeed stay away during training camp, which begins later this month. Meanwhile, SI’s Albert Breer notes (on Twitter) that a second tag next season would cost the team $19.99MM, though a camp holdout on Brown’s part could be aimed in part at obtaining an assurance the team wouldn’t go down that path.
Given today’s news, the situation between Brown and the Chiefs will be one of the most intriguing storylines in the build-up to the season.
Chiefs, OT Orlando Brown Jr. Not Close On Long-Term Deal
The Chiefs only have a few more days to extend offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., but it sounds like a deal won’t materialize before Friday’s deadline. Brown’s camp told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link) that the sides are nowhere close to a new deal and the player won’t sign an extension “just to do a deal.” Garafolo warns that Brown could miss training camp and even the start of the regular season.
Ever since the Chiefs slapped the offensive lineman with a $16.7MM franchise tag, we’ve heard that the player was seeking a new deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. According to Garafolo, the Chiefs are willing to pay Brown money that would top the right tackle market but not the top of the OL/LT market. Of course, Brown asked for a trade out of Baltimore because of his desire to play left tackle. The Chiefs ended up acquiring him and letting him play his preferred position, so it’s certainly notable that the front office is turning to RT values during negotiations.
The difference in the salaries is significant. Left tackles like Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil all top $22MM per season. The three highest-paid right tackles (Ryan Ramczyk, Brian O’Neill, Lane Johnson) average a bit more than $18.5MM per season.
Brown hasn’t inked his franchise tender, so he won’t be fined for missing any training camp time. That provides the lineman’s camp with some leverage assuming they truly plan to stage a holdout. As our own Sam Robinson recently pointed out, the Chiefs have just one O-lineman, Joe Thuney, signed to a notable veteran deal, so it would seem the franchise is prepared to give Brown a big-ticket extension. It’ll be interesting to see if the Chiefs front office plays hard ball or extends their budget as they look to focus in on the upcoming campaign.
The two sides have sounded optimistic about a long-term deal throughout the offseason, and the Chiefs have made it clear that they valued Brown as a long-term option during their 2021 OL overhaul. We may have received some hints about a potential holdout earlier this offseason; when asked about the AFC West arrivals of Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack and Randy Gregory, Brown said it is “not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle.”
The former third-round pick quickly transformed into a starter for the Ravens, and he established himself as a Pro Bowl right tackle in both 2019 and 2020. Last offseason, he was traded (along with a second- and sixth-round pick) to the Chiefs for a first-round selection. During his first season in Kansas City, Brown earned another Pro Bowl selection while appearing in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. Pro Football Focus ranked Brown 28th among 83 qualifying offensive tackles.
Four Players Remain On Franchise Tag; Extension Deadline Friday
The teams that still have players tied to the franchise tag have until 3pm CT Friday to reach extension agreements with the tagged performers. Otherwise, those players will play the 2022 season on the tag.
This year has brought a better success rate for tags leading to extensions, at least compared to the past two offseasons. Four of the eight players given the tag in March have signed extensions. That betters the 2020 (2-for-14) and 2021 (3-for-9) success rates. While Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), Cam Robinson (Jaguars), David Njoku (Browns) and Davante Adams (Packers; traded to Raiders) agreed to deals, the rest of this year’s group remains unsigned.
Here is how that quartet stands entering deadline week:
S Jessie Bates, Cincinnati Bengals
This looks like the most contentious of this year’s remaining tag situations. Bates, 25, discussed his disappointment about the lack of a Bengals extension ahead of his 2021 contract year and admitted not receiving a long-term deal affected him during the season. The former second-round pick, who rebounded with a postseason run featuring two interceptions and six pass deflections, voiced opposition to the franchise tag in February. Absent a long-term deal, the fifth-year defender is not expected to show for Bengals training camp. Bates, who has not signed his franchise tender, is tied to a $12.9MM tag figure. The Bengals hold $15.8MM in cap space.
Cincinnati has Vonn Bell on a $6MM-per-year deal, one that expires at season’s end, and used a first-round pick on safety Daxton Hill. The team has some notable players who become extension-eligible after 2022, notably Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins, and they may not be prepared to extend Bates on the level of Minkah Fitzpatrick ($18.2MM per year) or Jamal Adams ($17.5MM AAV). With the Bengals potentially eyeing Marcus Williams‘ five-year, $70MM Ravens deal, this impasse has created “bleak” negotiations leading up to the deadline.
The Bengals have taken care of homegrown defenders in the fairly recent past, giving both Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins two extensions and re-signing Dre Kirkpatrick in 2017. They also have let productive starters go, as evidenced by the departures of Andrew Whitworth, Kevin Zeitler, William Jackson and Carl Lawson. Zeitler signed a then-guard-record deal with the Browns in 2017; is Bates headed for free agency after a rental year?
T Orlando Brown Jr., Kansas City Chiefs
This situation has not produced as many headlines as Bates’ over the past year, but the Chiefs are a few days away from going to year-to-year with their left tackle. Brown is tied to a $16.7MM tag but is pursuing a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. Trent Williams, whom the Chiefs pursued in free agency last year before pivoting to a Brown trade, currently holds that title ($23MM per year). The league has three $20MM-AAV O-linemen (Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil). For Brown to commit to a long-term deal, he would need to be the fourth. The Chiefs hold $14.3MM in cap space.
The Chiefs gave up their 2021 first-round pick for Brown, in a deal that also sent a Ravens second-rounder to Kansas City. Brown hired an agent that did not have an NFL client at that point, seeking a representative without relationships with front offices. The former Ravens third-rounder delivered an ominous message to his current team last month. Addressing the AFC West arrivals of Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack and Randy Gregory, Brown said it is “not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle.” The sides have begun talks, which was the Chiefs’ plan upon acquiring Brown in 2021. But these could, as many tag stalemates do, go up to the deadline.
In moving from a right tackle the Ravens did not have in their long-term plans to a Chiefs Pro Bowler given the tag, Brown has shown a knack for maximizing his value. Like Bates, Brown has not signed his franchise tender, giving him the option of skipping training camp free of charge. The Chiefs have just one O-lineman, Joe Thuney, signed to a notable veteran deal. It would seem the franchise is prepared to give Brown a big-ticket extension. If the 26-year-old blocker is intent on surpassing Williams’ deal, it will test the Chiefs’ commitment.
TE Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins might be eyeing a rental season here. Gesicki signed his franchise tender and has expressed interest in a long-term Miami deal. But the team may want to see more from the former second-round pick. Less than a week before the deadline, the sides have not done much work on an extension. Njoku’s $14.2MM-per-year pact can reasonably be viewed as a Gesicki target, with the Dolphins tight end producing two seasons — yardage-wise — that outpaced Njoku’s best year. Even before Njoku’s extension, the Dolphins and their tagged tight end were not close on a re-up. The Dolphins hold $16.5MM in cap space.
Mike McDaniel reshaped the Dolphins’ offense this offseason, and on just a $10.9MM franchise tender, the Penn State product makes sense as a rental piece. This represents a crucial year for Tua Tagovailoa, and the Dolphins kept one of his top targets off the market. Gesicki, 26, could join this year’s other tagged tight end as a 2023 free agent. It would cost the Dolphins 120% of this year’s tight end tag figure to cuff Gesicki again in 2023.
TE Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys frequently hammer out extensions, preferring deals that last at least five years. That preference has impacted the Schultz talks, with the Njoku contract undoubtedly factoring into this equation as well. Throughout the offseason, the Cowboys and Schultz have not been close on an agreement. Schultz, 26, did not finish OTAs with the team, citing dissatisfaction with his contract talks for leaving. He later circled back for mandatory minicamp. Despite little momentum emerging for much of the offseason, these negotiations still have a chance of producing an agreement ahead of Friday’s deadline. The Cowboys hold $22.5MM in cap space; Schultz has signed his tender.
Unlike Gesicki’s situation, the tight end tag talks in Dallas have continued throughout the offseason. The $10.9MM payment obviously represents a major raise for the former fourth-round pick, but as Blake Jarwin‘s injury issues have shown, players can lose value quickly. The Cowboys paid Jarwin ahead of his career-altering injuries, and Schultz has been a far more effective weapon, as evidenced by his 808-yard, eight-touchdown 2021 season. The Cowboys were wise to keep him off this year’s market, with Amari Cooper being traded and Michael Gallup unlikely to start the season on time.
If Schultz and the Cowboys cannot agree on terms by Friday, his status as a key Dak Prescott target stands to position the Stanford alum for a big payday as a 2023 UFA. Then again, the Cowboys have re-tagged multiple players — Prescott and DeMarcus Lawrence — over the past five years.
Latest On Chiefs’ Orlando Brown Jr.
The Chiefs’ offseason has seen the departures of key players like Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu, but the money saved as a result has long been thought to be earmarked for a long-term extension with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. After the latest development in the negotiating process, the 26-year-old provided some encouraging remarks with respect to a deal getting done soon. 
Brown said that he is “very confident” an extension will be finalized before the July 15 deadline, via Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “Especially simply based off the things that have come into effect within our division, the type of defensive ends that have been brought in, the type of players and all of that type of stuff” he added. “It’s not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle. So, I’m very confident that the Kansas City Chiefs will get that done.”
The Chiefs traded for Brown last offseason as part of their efforts to rebuild their offensive line. The move gave them a replacement for Eric Fisher, and let Brown fulfil his goal of manning the blindside (as opposed to the right tackle spot, where he spent most of his time in Baltimore). With only one year remaining on his rookie contract, it was widely assumed a long-term deal would be coming at some point.
The Oklahoma product did nothing on the field to lessen the chances of an extension coming his way. He started all 16 games he appeared in, earning Pro Bowl honors for the third consecutive season. As was expected after the campaign, Kansas City placed the franchise tag on him, which will pay him $16.7MM in the absence of a new pact being signed.
Negotiations have been ongoing, but it was reported last month that the former third-rounder is seeking a deal which will place him atop the list league-wide in terms of compensation amongst left tackles. At a minimum, he is expected to join Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil as the only offensive linemen earning over $20MM per season.
Last week, another hurdle was cleared when Brown hired an agent. Interestingly, he become the first player to sign on with the Delta Sports Group, deliberately seeking a representative without pre-existing relationships with NFL executives. With that taken care of, both sides will be seeking traction in negotiations, as just over one month remains to finalize a deal. If Brown’s sentiments are reciprocated, though, he should have a new contract in hand by the time the 2022 season begins.
Chiefs LT Orlando Brown Jr. Hires Agent
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, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Brown will go with Michael Portner of the Delta Sports Group. 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.
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 (Twitter link). Brown is DSG’s first NFL client. That will certainly add intrigue to his Chiefs extension discussions.
Kansas City used its franchise tag on Brown in March, cuffing the fifth-year blocker with a $16.7MM 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 right tackle. 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.
Three left tackles — Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil — earn $20MM per year. They are the NFL’s only $20MM-AAV O-linemen. Brown becoming the fourth seems likely. The Chiefs giving up a first-round pick in last year’s trade points to an extension coming to pass, and the team only has one other blocker (Joe Thuney) signed to a notable veteran contract. That clears a space for Brown, but his aspirations may complicate these negotiations.
Chiefs’ Orlando Brown Jr. Seeking Top-Of-The-Market Extension?
Amidst a number of changes on offense this offseason, one of the top priorities for the Chiefs is signing left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to a long-term extension. Doing so could be complicated by a number of factors, including, primarily, his contract demands.
On that point, Armando Salguero of Outkick.com reports that Brown “wants to become the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL”. He adds that the 26-year-old is currently in the process of hiring a new agent, and that the matter of reaching the top of the tackle market (both in terms of annual compensation and guaranteed money) has been brought up at least once during that process.
The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Brown this offseason, to no surprise. If a deal can’t be reached by mid-July, he will earn $16.7MM as a result, but getting the former third-rounder under contract for the foreseeable future has always been the goal for Kansas City. “He’s still working to get an agent, is what he’s doing” said head coach Andy Reid. “Once he gets that taken care of, we’ll be able to roll.”
Brown was drafted in 2018, the organization he grew up around during his father’s playing career. Seeking to play on the blindside – rather than at right tackle, where he spent most of his Ravens tenure – however, he requested a trade to a team which would allow him to do so. He manned the left tackle spot in Kansas City this year, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
That level of performance, coupled with his age, led to the $20MM-per-year mark being listed as a starting point when it was reported that contract negotiations were set to begin. The only tackles currently at that level of compensation are Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil. As Salguero writes, $25MM per annum and $50MM in guarantees “will be in the conversation” – which makes this situation one to watch for the Chiefs and any number of other offensive linemen around the league.
Chiefs, LT Orlando Brown Jr. To Begin Extension Talks
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.