Orlando Brown Jr. contract talks coming down to wire for Chiefs

Even if things work out as both sides say they hoped all along and the Kansas City Chiefs sign Orlando Brown Jr. to a long-term contract extension, no one can say they didn’t bring the drama. With less than 24 hours to go until the league’s deadline to reach an extension, both sides have yet to agree on a deal, which means negotiations are coming down to the wire.

Earlier this week, NFL reporter Mike Garafolo explained the latest wrinkle in negotiations between the Chiefs and Brown, saying that both sides were “nowhere close” to a new deal. That level of drama isn’t all that uncommon in talks like this, as reports and rumors are often “leaked” from one side or the other in order to spur change or add pressure via the media in contract talks.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Orlando Brown Jr. are taking their contract negotiations down to the wire before the NFL’s franchise tag deadline on Friday

The Chiefs have known ever since they traded for Brown Jr. well over a year ago that he desired a long-term contract that would pay him well to play left-tackle for several years to come. The Ravens had already promised Ronnie Stanley that exact financial scenario, which is what made Brown expendable to them in the first place.

Earlier this year, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Brown which gives them all of the leverage in any deal. Brown can create a lot of drama and make his teammates upset, but in the end, he has to show up and play in order to earn his check. Even then, the Chiefs can also tag him again in 2023 for less than what he wants to make in a single season, so the Chiefs really have all the leverage in terms of negotiating a deal that makes sense against the realities of going year-to-year.

If the Chiefs cannot reach agreement with Brown on a new contract by Friday’s deadline at 4:00 p.m. E.T., the left tackle will be forced to play out the year for $16.6 million and contract talks cannot be picked up again until after the season is over.