Why the Kansas City Chiefs need to shift their focus to the future

Is Orlando Brown the long-term answer at left tackle?

As we already discussed, Brett Veach invested a first-round pick in Orlando Brown Jr. It would be a huge embarrassment to let a player for whom you gave up a first-round pick walk after one season. The problem is it would be even worse to pay him a massive long-term contract to be your left tackle if he continues to struggle there. Brown left the Baltimore Ravens because he wasn’t interested in playing right tackle, so moving him to that side long-term probably isn’t even a consideration.

The Chiefs have the rest of this season to figure out if they think Brown is worth investing in. This is another huge question that they have to figure out in the remaining 10 games this season. They could buy themselves an extra year to figure it out if they franchise tag him, but that comes at a pretty hefty one-year price tag as well.

Brown is never going to be the same style of left tackle that Eric Fisher was. Their playing styles are the opposite. Fisher relied on his athleticism, while Brown relies on his size and power. The Chiefs have to figure out if that style of left tackle will work in their system. Can Brown improve and play better? Sure. But part of it is also is about Patrick Mahomes dropping too deep. He needs to stay up in the pocket to avoid speed guys going around Brown on the outside.

This is another huge decision the Chiefs have to figure out and it transitions perfectly to the last big question.