Chiefs try to get tricky but may have made a big mistake instead
Most already figured that the Kansas City Chiefs and Orlando Brown Jr. wouldn't reach an agreement on a long-term deal before the NFL's franchise tag deadline on July 15. But, what most didn't know -or probably everyone outside the confines of GEHA Field didn't know- was that it would go down the way it did. […]
Most already figured that the Kansas City Chiefs and Orlando Brown Jr. wouldn't reach an agreement on a long-term deal before the NFL's franchise tag deadline on July 15. But, what most didn't know -or probably everyone outside the confines of GEHA Field didn't know- was that it would go down the way it did.
Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Chiefs offered Brown a contract that would've made him the highest-paid left tackle in the league.
But at the same time, it would've been just hollow words instead of dollars and cents filling up the space.
That's because per Garafolo, the Chiefs included a $40+ million final year that bumped the deal's annual average up to the point where it made Brown the highest-paid LT in the NFL.
There's no way that final year would've went through under those standards. The Chiefs would've reworked Brown's deal or, they would've had the situation set up to where they could release him with minimal penalty (or none, at all) if he refused to take a pay cut/rework his deal.
Therefore, Brown's true average per year would've been more like $18.2ish million, which isn't even at the top of the right tackle market. And while Brown isn't really worth getting paid as the NFL's top left tackle, he does belong in the $19-$20 million per year range.
Now, the Chiefs will wait and see if Brown signs his franchise tag tender, but they could still be without Brown for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. That's not a good situation to be in with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack on deck.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, both sides remain hopeful to get a deal done next year, but what if Brown balls out and is even more expensive? Will he be willing to talk with the Chiefs or will he just look for another team after what happened this year?
This situation was already interesting enough, but now, it's even more interesting. And it's likely we won't see any final resolution for a good while.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
