Latest news suggests Chiefs are in danger of losing key member of franchise
The Kansas City Chiefs are at big risk of losing a key member of the franchise
The Kansas City Chiefs are at risk of losing a key member of the franchise.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that Kansas City is not expected to place the franchise tag on Orlando Brown Jr.
Brown received the franchise tag last offseason after he wasn't able to come to an agreement on a contract extension with the Chiefs.
Last year, the franchise tag for Brown cost $16.6 million.
If Kansas City placed the tag on Brown again this offseason, it would cost around $19.9 million.
After the team wasn't able to work out an extension with Brown last offseason, it's clear they don't feel strongly about their odds of working out a deal before the start of the 2023 season.
That's not to say it won't happen — the Chiefs will continue to work on an extension with Brown through the start of free agency (he can start talking to other teams when the legal tampering period begins next week). But they don't want to get stuck with a fully guaranteed $19.9 million on their payroll if they can't come to an agreement.
That's certainly understandable for a team that doesn't have a lot of cap space entering free agency.
The Chiefs gave up a first-round pick for Brown in 2021, so there's no doubt they'd prefer to keep him longterm.
But Kansas City isn't going to give Brown a contract they don't feel he deserves just because they traded for him two years ago. And that's the right call. The Chiefs don't need to get saddled with a bad contract because they feel obligated to extend Brown.
If a deal makes sense, they'll make it happen. But if Brown, who played all 17 regular season games for KC last season, feels like he can get more cash elsewhere, the Chiefs won't get into a bidding war. Instead, they'll begin their search for a new starting left tackle.
