KC Chiefs: Orlando Brown deserves to get paid after playoff performance

In order for the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night, the offensive line had to shut down the vaunted Philadelphia Eagles pass rush that led the league in sacks during the regular season and consisted of four guys each with double-digit sacks.

Some analysts said the game would be a repeat of Super Bowl LV because of how much talent was on the Eagles’ defensive line. For what it’s worth, people had a reason to be optimistic about their Eagles picks for the big game because the Chiefs’ offensive tackles, Andrew Wylie and Orlando Brown, had their struggles during the regular season. They both had issues with some of the elite pass rushers around the NFL.

The spotlight was the brightest on left tackle Orlando Brown who had turned down a lucrative contract extension from the Chiefs during the offseason after his first season with the team. All year long, fans criticized Brown and asked why he deserved to be one of the highest-paid left tackles in the league.

Brown passes the biggest test

Ultimately on the biggest stage, Brown, along with the rest of the Chiefs’ offensive line, completely shut down the Eagles’ pass rush by allowing zero sacks. It was a prove-it game for the entire unit but especially Brown who’d been under a lot of flak for his early season performance. In the end, his postseason performance is all that mattered and it was good enough for the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl.

Now, Brown deserves to be paid by the Chiefs. The Chiefs shouldn’t get crazy and pay Brown more than Trent Williams or anything like Brown was demanding before, but at this point, Brown would be out of his mind if he turned down a similar offer to what the Chiefs gave him last year. He didn’t play well enough during the regular season to warrant that. His playoff performance shouldn’t completely overshadow that.

That said, if fans are comfortable with other players like Sammy Watkins and Frank Clark making a little more than they’re worth because they show up in the playoffs, then what’s the issue with the same being done for Brown?

A reasonable extension

Realistically, keeping Brown around long-term is also the best option for the Chiefs. He’s still only 26 years old with plenty of time to improve his game. Additionally, the free agent market nor the Chiefs draft position really allows them to find a day-one replacement for Brown next year if they let him go. It’s just not realistic. If Brown were to hit the free agent market, he would be the best left tackle available.

Despite all the past struggles from Brown and the discourse surrounding him as a player, he came up big and won a matchup that not many people had him winning in the most important game there is. Usually, that earns you a payday. Also, zero sacks allowed in the Super Bowl can get you on a t-shirt as well.