Orlando Brown Jr., KC Chiefs are ‘nowhere close to a deal’

Per NFL reporter Mike Garafolo, the Kansas City Chiefs and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. are “nowhere close to deal” as the two sides negotiate this week.

The Kansas City Chiefs and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. have been relatively quiet in the days and weeks as they’ve engaged in long-term contract negotiations ahead of the National Football League’s deadline on Friday afternoon in order to get an extension in place before the 2022 season. However, in the last few hours, rumors have begun to leak from multiple sources that the talks are not only not going as hoped but that they might be falling apart.

According to NFL reporter Mike Garafolo, the two sides have been at an impasse and are “nowhere close to a deal.” Garafolo is quoting former NFL tackle Jammal Brown, who he says has served as a mentor of sorts for Orlando Brown in this cycle of negotiations for the long-term security he’s sought since two seasons ago with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chiefs have placed the franchise tag on their left tackle which means that Brown must play out this year on the slotted $16.6 million per the NFL. From there, the Chiefs could potentially tag him again next year for a nice raise, but none of those amounts would equal what he wants on a new contract extension at the top of the tackle ranks—which would come out to around $23 million per season.

The Ravens traded Brown to the Chiefs partly because of Brown’s insistence on being paid like a left tackle on his upcoming deal, so Brown’s demands haven’t exactly been a secret to general manager Brett Veach. Brown has longed for a contract for the 16 months he’s been on the Chiefs roster, so the fact that such a rumor is circulating now is surprising. The Chiefs, after all, have maintained that they were ready to work out a deal for a tackle who has made the Pro Bowl for the last three seasons.