For a while, the Kansas City Chiefs were worried about not having a complete offensive line coming into training camp.
Orlando Brown Jr. initially thought of holding out without a long-term contract in place.
The Chiefs would like to extend the negotiations with him, hence assigning him the franchise tag worth $16.7 million.
However, the team’s left tackle was trying to exercise his leverage to force Kansas City to agree on his terms.
But the two sides have come to an agreement as shared by former NFL quarterback and current analyst Robert Griffin III.
BREAKING: Orlando Brown Jr. will report to Chiefs Camp today and play on the franchise tag. Sources close to Brown say he is in the best shape of his life and knows how important the first 5 days of pads are for him, the team and to HC Andy Reid. Mahomes gets his left tackle back
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 1, 2022
Griffin tweeted, “Orlando Brown Jr. will report to Chiefs Camp today and play on the franchise tag. Sources close to Brown say he is in the best shape of his life and knows how important the first 5 days of pads are for him, the team and to HC Andy Reid. Mahomes gets his left tackle back.”
The last sentence is important if the Chiefs would like to sustain their success on offense.
Yes, Mahomes is one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the league and he can make plays outside the pocket.
But it’s hard to expect him to continuously bring them to victory without constant protection.
Therefore, Brown’s presence is vital to Kansas City’s cause.
An Audition Year For Brown
The Chiefs would like to see if Brown is worthy of a long-term investment.
The market for offensive linemen has grown exponentially and Kansas City wants to see what they have in him before giving the huge extension.
Likewise, Brown is still getting good money this season at $16.7 million.
If he provides solid protection on Mahomes’ blind side, the Chiefs should not hesitate in giving him a big payday, unlike their hesitations with Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu.
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