Last April, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired Orlando Brown from the Baltimore Ravens as part of their offensive line overhaul, but they didn’t extend the now-25-year-old left tackle. With Brown on the precipice of free agency, will the Chiefs work out a deal? If not, where are Brown’s potential landing spots around the NFL?
Orlando Brown’s free-agent profile
After Patrick Mahomes got destroyed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ overwhelming pass rush in last year’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs set out to drastically improve their offensive line. They made Joe Thuney one of the highest-paid guards in the league, stole both Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith in the 2021 NFL Draft, and traded for Brown.
Brown didn’t come cheaply. Kansas City sent first, third, and fourth-round picks in 2021 plus a fifth-round choice in 2022 to Baltimore in exchange for Brown, a 2021 second-rounder, and a 2022 sixth-round selection. According to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective’s draft value chart, the Chiefs sacrificed the equivalent of the 23rd overall pick to land Brown.
In his first season in Kansas City, Brown was solid, if not spectacular. He’s a reliable left tackle game in and game out. While he may never be a top-five LT league-wide, Brown will probably always be around the fringes of the top 10 at the position. That’s more than enough to predict that the Chiefs will work out an extension with him, especially considering the draft capital they gave up to acquire him.
In August, general manager Brett Veach said that the Chiefs were planning on having Brown on the franchise tag in 2022. The franchise tender for offensive linemen encompasses all five OL positions, so it’s actually pretty cheap for left tackles. If he’s tagged, Brown will collect roughly $17 million next season.
Orlando Brown’s landing spots
If the Chiefs don’t re-sign or franchise Brown, where could he go? Here are a few possible landing spots.
Miami Dolphins
There are a surprising number of starting-caliber left tackles projected to become free agents in 2022. In addition to Brown, that list includes Terron Armstead, Cam Robinson, Duane Brown, and Eric Fisher. That’s good news for a team like the Dolphins, who need a complete renovation along their front five and have cap space to burn.
Of the available options, Armstead is the only left tackle whose current level of top-end play can rival Brown’s. But Brown is five years younger than Armstead and has a much better health track record. He’d be a good fit for a young Miami team that desperately needs an anchor up front. The Dolphins could attempt a Chiefs-esque OL makeover this offseason.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are alongside the Dolphins in the discussion for the NFL’s worst OL, and two of their better linemen are scheduled to hit free agency. Left guard Quinton Spain and right tackle Riley Reiff will both reach the open market in March, leaving holes on a unit that already struggles to protect Joe Burrow. As their star quarterback enters Year 3, it’s time for Cincinnati to make sure he can stay upright.
Jonah Williams is the Bengals’ best offensive lineman. So if Cincinnati signed Brown, they’d have to reconfigure their OL. Given his profile and what it would likely take to acquire him, Brown would surely line up at left tackle, bumping Williams to the right side. Overall, that would mark a steep improvement in the Queen City.
Indianapolis Colts
On multiple occasions, GM Chris Ballard has declined to commit to Carson Wentz as the Colts’ 2022 starting quarterback. Given his salary and the draft capital it took to acquire him, I’m guessing Wentz will be back under center next season. But no matter who Indy’s QB is, they need to figure out the future of their left tackle position.
Eric Fisher seemed like a safe stop-gap option for the Colts after Anthony Castonzo retired. But he didn’t play well and was likely hampered while recovering from a torn Achilles. Fisher is only 30 years old, and offensive tackles can play for a long time. But given his injury history, I wouldn’t bet on him for the long haul. A combination of Brown and Quenton Nelson on the left side of Indianapolis’ line would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars’ new regime will need to address plenty of roster holes in the coming months. But their top priority has to be protecting 2021 No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. They opted to use the franchise tag on incumbent left tackle Cam Robinson last year, so it’s unclear if Jacksonville wants to hammer out a long-term agreement with him.
In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jaguars hold the top selection once again. As such, they will have their pick of offensive tackle prospects, including Evan Neal (Alabama) and Ikem Ekwonu (NC State). But if they want to reserve that pick for an edge rusher like Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux, they could spring for Brown in free agency. With nearly $60 million in projected cap space, the Jags should be able to outbid every team aside from the Dolphins.
Chicago Bears
Tom Brady and Andrew Whitworth get all the love as the NFL’s seemingly ageless wonders. But now-40-year-old Jason Peters played 853 snaps as an average-to-above-average left tackle for the Bears in 2021. Not bad for a player who didn’t sign until the middle of August.
It goes without saying that Peters isn’t part of new GM Ryan Poles’ multi-year plan. The Bears already used a second-round pick on Teven Jenkins in 2021. But he could easily move to the right side to accommodate a player like Brown. Poles was part of the Chiefs’ front office that traded for Brown last year.