The Kansas City Chiefs had first-hand experience on how a faulty offensive line can cost them games.
That said, they went into last year’s offseason addressing that concern.
This season, they would like to keep the protection around quarterback Patrick Mahomes by assigning offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. the franchise tag.
Brown will get guaranteed money worth $16.5 million due to it while the Chiefs buy more time in finalizing a long-term deal.
But with the Chiefs making Brown their priority, independent NFL reporter Dov Kleiman had a theory wherein the team might lose one of their defensive cornerstones.
The tag will cost around $16.5 million for the Chiefs to keep Brown.
Tyrann Mathieu is now that much more likely to get to free-agency where he'll find a team that will appreciate him.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 7, 2022
In response to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter’s tweet, Kleiman said, “The tag will cost around $16.5 million for the Chiefs to keep Brown. Tyrann Mathieu is now that much more likely to get to free-agency where he’ll find a team that will appreciate him.”
Some Twitter users did not like the tone of Kleiman’s tweet.
But he does have a point in alluding to the possibility of Mathieu playing elsewhere.
Will Mathieu Leave Kansas City In 2022?
The Chiefs could have assigned the franchise tag on Mathieu after his three-year, $42 million contract expired last season.
However, the team prioritized protecting their most valuable asset in Mahomes.
But Kansas City can still pull off some moves to retain the two-time All-Pro’s services.
As it stands, the Chiefs are around $5.4 million over the cap based on 2022 projections.
It’s an easy amount to overcome by negotiating from restructured contracts or player releases.
While the Chiefs could pursue that route, Mathieu will command a heavy price tag that may cripple their cap flexibility.
Therefore, it’s likely that the three-time Pro Bowler will test the market and see if there are any takers for his services.
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