Chiefs Left Tackle Shows His Hand: Initial Reactions
The Kansas City Chiefs currently have their left tackle — Orlando Brown Jr. — on the franchise tag for the 2022 season. The team used the franchise tag after initial contract talks were unsuccessful. Thus far in the offseason, Brown and the front office have seemingly made no movement once again. Lately, the reasoning behind no movement has been Brown’s lack of an agent.
Back in March, the left tackle was deciding between hiring a new agent and representing himself in negotiations. After nearly three months of deliberation, Brown hired Michael Portner to represent him on June 2.
Now that the agent roadblock is out of the way, the Chiefs and Brown should be headed towards much more serious negotiation talks. This movement in talks started today when the offensive lineman appeared on NFL Network’s NFL Total Access to discuss a long-term deal.
.@Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (@ZEUS__57) shows off his footwork on the baseline and shares how playing tennis has helped develop his footwork. (via @NFLTotalAccess) pic.twitter.com/NW5cg9qwSO — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 7, 2022
It sure seems that Brown’s goal in extension talks is to leverage the AFC West arms race. Brown feels like he is even more important to the team’s success now that Chandler Jones, Randy Gregory, and Khalil Mack have landed in the division. He might not be wrong. The AFC West doesn’t just feature a quartet of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Three of the league’s best pass rush duos also play in the division.
Kansas City gave up four draft picks, including the number 31 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft, to acquire “OBJ” from the Ravens. Instead of choosing to select a tackle with their top pick, Brett Veach chose to acquire a known commodity. The team did this knowing that an extension would be upcoming for the young tackle. Unfortunately for Kansas City, their leverage may be gone after giving up so much draft capital to acquire Brown and now with the arms race in the AFC West.
Don’t be surprised if the Chiefs make Brown the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL. Here’s an idea of what that contract might look like.
Do you think the Chiefs will reach a contract agreement with Orlando Brown Jr.? Leave a comment down below to join the discussion.
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