Nate Taylor: Chiefs expected to franchise OBJ again [not happening]

[The Franchise]

Brown is technically the Chiefs’ top free agent, though for the second consecutive year, he might never reach the open market. Similar to last year, the Chiefs are expected to place the franchise tag on Brown, which will prevent him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Such a move will allow both parties more time to negotiate a lucrative contract extension. If the parties cannot agree to a deal by the middle of July, Brown would once again be restricted to a one-year salary of $18.4 million, according to Over The Cap.

https://theathletic.com/4161606/2023...3&redirected=1

The Athletic's Nate Taylor writes the Chiefs are "expected" to place the franchise tag on LT Orlando Brown again.

Brown played on the tag last year, briefly threatening to not report to camp before showing up on time. Since coming over for the Ravens in a trade, Brown has been stellar if not exceptional, and would probably profile as one of the five best free agents on the market if he got there. Taylor also writes that Brown turned down a six-year, $139 million deal with a $30.25 million signing bonus last offseason.

Not really new news...but he won't be hitting the open market at least.

Originally Posted by ShowtimeSBMVP

In a surprise twist, the Chiefs will not be franchise tagging left tackle Orlando Brown, per source. He’s set to be a free agent March 13. The player has been notified.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 6, 2023

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Below are the positional values for the franchise tag this year.

As always, a QB tag tops the list. https://t.co/6LJf2hIKYa pic.twitter.com/J0H0UCJNrJ

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 21, 2023

Is OL all lumped under one tag?

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by O.city

They aren't signing all of Sneed, Bolton, Jones and Gay.

2 of those guys maybe, not all 4.

Why Bolton and Gay? Aren't they entering only their 3rd and 4th seasons?

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

We don't have to. Wylie is a FA. The Chiefs will likely let him walk. He came back this year on a discount double deal. Chiefs aren't getting that anymore. He played well in the Super Bowl, people saw that. It's not unreasonable to think another team will throw 3 yr./20 mil. at him to be their starting RT. And if you're Wylie, why wouldn't you? You've won 2 rings here, but made only peanuts. You finally have the chance to get PAID (at least by his standards) and I can tell you right now the Chiefs won't be the one to give him that contract. They just won't. So you can say goodbye to Wylie (unless he has absolutely zero desire to ever make any money and just wants to stay here for his career for peanuts).

As far as OBJ goes, whether he is traded or not will be completely dependent on him and his agent and how much money they're wanting this year. I would lean towards Veach probably getting a long term deal done with him, but if they come in with completely unreasonable demands (like last year) then he will either trade him for picks or force him to play another year on the franchise tag (which OBJ will likely do after pouting for a little bit and sitting out a few practices or pre-season activities). He's not skipping out on nearly 20 million dollars.

So, no, the Chiefs won't be trading BOTH OT's. Because we only have one we can potentially trade.

Sorry, I didn't mean 'trade' both Ts. My point is, and has been since about week 13, we're keeping at least of these guys. Seems like simple math that we're keeping OBJ, unless he's completely unreasonable. My guess is that they'll increase the guaranteed money, but that's just details.

[suzzer99]

I think I'd be in favor/be able to talk myself into moving on from Brown Jr, taking a shot at an OT in the 1st round, and then using the money saved on other parts of the roster.

The gap between Brown Jr and say an average LT isn't ~$19M wide maybe https://t.co/BVaBWMM7dw

— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) February 21, 2023

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Is OL all lumped under one tag?

Yes. Also irrelevant here since the 120% of last year's tag is higher.

16,662,000 goes to 19,999,400.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Why Bolton and Gay? Aren't they entering only their 3rd and 4th seasons?

I heard on one of the RGR podcasts that Gay needs to be addressed this offseason, Bolton the next? And I think CJ next offseason as well. Point being, not all of these guys have to get done this offseason.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Do you know how much it will cost to trade up to 13 from 31?

Obviously not if you think it's at all a realistic scenario.

And you never give up that much for anyone unless it’s a potential franchise QB.

[mkp785]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I think I'd be in favor/be able to talk myself into moving on from Brown Jr, taking a shot at an OT in the 1st round, and then using the money saved on other parts of the roster.

The gap between Brown Jr and say an average LT isn't ~$19M wide maybe https://t.co/BVaBWMM7dw

— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) February 21, 2023

Well that's fine. I'm sure after all OBJ will be fine with Garrett Bolles money

Since he's on par with that level of play-top 15ish LT.

[Balto]

I see a few people saying who knows if a rookie LT will be at OBJs level or even a bust BUT I haven't seen any of these people talk about what if we give OBJ a long term contract and he gets worse? I mean its FACT that he started the season much worse than what he finished last year. Shouldn't OBJ getting worse or at least not getting any better be a serious discussion?

I know the cap can be worked out and Veach can keep about all the players if he wants BUT I do worry if making OBJ the highest paid LT in the NFL will create a WTF moment for guys agents of Creed, Smith and who ever else knowing that OBJ not being close to a top 5 LT in the NFL just got paid as the best LT in the NFL. Does Creeds agent say hey I actually do have the best center in the NFL and now you MUST pay him like he is....Smith's agent HEY my client needs OBJ overpay type money! And so on and so on.

I just don't see Veach going down this path!

1) Sign OBJ to a reasonable contract

2) Tag and trade

3) Tag and draft his replacement that plays RT in 2023, would mean OBJ probably walks after 2023 and the rookie slides over to LT OR OBJ agrees to a more reasonable contract and that rookie stays at RT.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by mkp785

Well that's fine. I'm sure after all OBJ will be fine with Garrett Bolles money

Since he's on par with that level of play-top 15ish LT.

He wasn't even fine with getting $6M/yr more than Bolles last year.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by mkp785

I know, I added that into there. Draft value chart still gives us 640 for that plus our own 2nd. That plus our first should get us into the top 13 or so.

For that to happen you need:

1. A willing trade partner who feels that the picks and money they give up for Brown are going to improve their team more than if they kept both.

2. The team KC trades up with has to feel that whatever they get from KC is better than what they would have if they stayed put. KC also has to feel like the player is worth the picks they give up.

It’s easy with hypotheticals which you gave and I respect, but much harder to pull off.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Balto

I see a few people saying who knows if a rookie LT will be at OBJs level or even a bust BUT I haven't seen any of these people talk about what if we give OBJ a long term contract and he gets worse? I mean its FACT that he started the season much worse than what he finished last year. Shouldn't OBJ getting worse or at least not getting any better be a serious discussion?

I know the cap can be worked out and Veach can keep about all the players if he wants BUT I do worry if making OBJ the highest paid LT in the NFL will create a WTF moment for guys agents of Creed, Smith and who ever else knowing that OBJ not being close to a top 5 LT in the NFL just got paid as the best LT in the NFL. Does Creeds agent say hey I actually do have the best center in the NFL and now you MUST pay him like he is....Smith's agent HEY my client needs OBJ overpay type money! And so on and so on.

I just don't see Veach going down this path!

1) Sign OBJ to a reasonable contract

2) Tag and trade

3) Tag and draft his replacement that plays RT in 2023, would mean OBJ probably walks after 2023 and the rookie slides over to LT OR OBJ agrees to a more reasonable contract and that rookie stays at RT.

Yep, I'm sure Creed and Smith...who are friends with OBJ and spend every day with him for an entire season are sitting there talking about how OBJ isn't a top 5 LT in the NFL.

[Balto]

Originally Posted by raybec 4

Everyone thought Veach was going to get his good buddy Ryan Poles to trade us Robert Quinn for peanuts too.

I'm thinking Veach didn't want Quinn

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Sorry, I didn't mean 'trade' both Ts. My point is, and has been since about week 13, we're keeping at least of these guys. Seems like simple math that we're keeping OBJ, unless he's completely unreasonable. My guess is that they'll increase the guaranteed money, but that's just details.

I understand what you're saying, just don't necessarily agree with it.

Wylie is gone. Period. So no reason to entertain that scenario.

OBJ's situation is completely dependent on what he and his agent want to do. I DO think they will ultimately get a long term deal done, but if they are completely unreasonable and force Veach's hand, there's not a doubt in my mind he will pivot.

So there is a very real world scenario, potentially, where both starting tackles are gone. We'll see how it plays out . . . . . .

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by mkp785

Well that's fine. I'm sure after all OBJ will be fine with Garrett Bolles money

Since he's on par with that level of play-top 15ish LT.

Unless I'm mis-reading that, PFF has Bolles ranked higher than Tunsil, which is a joke by any metric.

But we know already that OBJ is better than Bolles, and not as good as Tunsil. The fact that PFF somehow doesn't know that doesn't make PFF seem more credible.