Chiefs Rumors: OT Orlando Brown to Receive Franchise Tag Ahead of Deadline

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Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has been given the franchise tag by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs elected to use their one-year, $16.5 million tender on the 25-year-old after the two sides were unable to agree to a long-term deal before the start of free agency.

Brown and the Chiefs can continue to negotiate a multiyear extension, but this move ensures that the team doesn’t have to worry about losing him as an unrestricted free agent. 

After playing sparingly through the first six games of his rookie season, the Oklahoma product moved into the starting lineup in Week 7 and never looked back. He has since started 58 out of 59 regular-season games.

Brown originally played right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, but he moved to left tackle in 2020 after Ronnie Stanley suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8.

Speaking to reporters at the time, he explained why he preferred to play on the left side of the offensive line.

“Growing up in my household, if you were going to play O-line, my dad didn’t want you being on the right side,” Brown told Daniel Oyefusi of the Baltimore Sun. “It was one of those deals where he felt as though the right tackle—and especially at the time when he played—he felt the right tackle was not considered the best tackle on the offensive line and in the offensive line room.”

Brown is the son of the late former Cleveland Browns and Ravens left tackle Orlando Brown Sr.

Since the Ravens had Stanley entrenched on the left side, Brown was dealt to the Chiefs in April 2021 along with two draft picks in exchange for four draft picks, including Kansas City’s first-rounder in 2021 (No. 31 overall).

Brown started 16 of 17 games for the Chiefs in the regular season and was named to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season.

Based on the price Kansas City paid to get him from the Ravens, it seemed unlikely he was going to leave as a free agent.

It’s rare for a high-caliber left tackle to hit the open market at his age. Brown will still be pursuing a long-term deal, but he’s already guaranteed a lot of money for next season after signing the franchise tender.