KC Chiefs, Orlando Brown’s destinies intertwined this offseason

The Kansas City Chiefs and offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. seem on course for another franchise tag after the 2022 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs and left tackle Orlando Brown are set to do the contract dance once again this offseason. The Chiefs’ use of the franchise tag once again seems like a foregone conclusion. But Brown’s late-season performance could make the pending contract negotiations interesting.

In December 2022, Brown received what was once improbable earlier this season: being named to the AFC’s Pro Bowl team. The Pro Bowl and Brown go hand-in-hand, as this is his fourth consecutive selection to the team. Most importantly, it is his second selection as the Kansas City Chiefs left tackle. Individual accolades, however, are not Brown’s goal this season or in Kansas City in general.

“I was brought here to win Super Bowls, and we haven’t accomplished that goal yet,” he said. “For me, that’s the big one.” That’s most important.”

Some fans will argue that Brown’s priority is that long-term contract that eluded him last offseason. But a rising tide lifts all boats, and a Lombardi trophy is a very high tide. Brown has several motivations this season. No matter the season’s ultimate outcome, Brown’s representation, and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will likely be sitting opposite one another later this year to hash out a contract. The two sides came close last year, with Kansas City offering a historic deal to Brown.

The deal came after a season in which, by most measurements, Brown did not reach the franchise’s expectations. PFF graded him as the league’s 21st-best offensive tackle in 2021, with his 36 pressures allowed ranking eighth among left tackles. There were certainly worse options at left tackle, but Brown’s 2021 campaign was hardly among the best. Yet, despite that, the Chiefs wanted to pay Brown for what he could be in a Chiefs uniform.

Brown’s outlook as a franchise tackle waned in fans’ eyes at the start of the season. His slow start, while awful, was not unexpected. Brown did not participate in the Chiefs’ offseason program due to contract negotiations. While he rejoined the team in the second week of training camp, he was playing catchup in head coach Andy Reid’s offensive scheme.

“It’s not like riding a bike, where once you’ve got it, you’ve got it forever,” offensive line coach Andy Heck said in November. “You have to continue with it.” Orlando did miss a big part of the offseason. But there’s something to be said for getting in there and seeing the looks you need to see. Now we’re pretty well into the season, so I’m seeing him kind of get to where he’s caught up with everybody else.

Brown certainly hopped right on the bike, and his late-season resurgence has helped fans forget about his rough start.

But the conundrum facing Kansas City is what they will pay for Brown’s early-season struggles and late-season successes. They tried a safe approach to it during the 2021 negotiations. The Chiefs’ had $38 million in guaranteed money and an inflated sixth-year salary, which inflated the deal’s annual value per year. If Brown had signed that deal, his annual salary would still be well outside the top five among left tackles. But, in the worst-case scenario, the Chiefs would have reasonable room to move on from Brown and his contract. But the franchise tag ahead of the 2022 season was a good backup option for both sides.

Brown played this season on a one-year salary of $16.6 million, which was more than Brown had earned in his four previous seasons combined. If the Chiefs and Brown cannot reach an agreement, Brown’s franchise tag salary would rise to $19.9 million. a nice salary for one season, but that still lacks the long-term security the 26-year-old desires.

The Chiefs have several free agency decisions to make, but the biggest wild card is certainly Brown. Kansas City’s offseason will likely be won or lost depending on what they do at left tackle. Brown’s future in Kansas City will be the first move the Chiefs make this offseason, franchise tag or not.

If the decision had to be made today, the franchise tag seems probable. It would be a harmless decision for the Chiefs, and Brown’s 2023 salary would be comparable to any deal Kansas City would give him. Plus, if the two sides are impossibly far apart on a long-term contract, a tag enables Kansas City to possibly pursue a trade partner that meets Brown’s contract demands. The five-year veteran will not be short of suitors. Even now, people speculate that Brown is going to New England, Pittsburgh, or even Chicago.

It is too soon to tell what will become of this situation. Right now, both sides are on the same side with Super Bowl aspirations.

“Playing in this system, there are certain things that happen, and obviously I’ve got to do a better job of making sure that pressures aren’t having an effect on the game,” Brown said. “But overall, we’ve been able to win a lot of games, and we’ve had a lot of success offensively.” Pat, I think, is leading the league in passing yards. “As far as statistics go, man, the only one I really care about is W’s.”