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

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Just one point of clarification:

Nnadi actually fell off middle of last year. Somebody charted his run stops over the summer and he was like near the bottom of the league.

And the eye test backs this up.

If he’s like the 5th or 6th DT on a league minimum 1-year deal, sure. I’d rather take a chance on a late draft pick. At least you might get a good player with fresher legs. Nnadi just isn’t good anymore. I wonder if he’s dealt with injuries that we just didn’t hear about.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

And the eye test backs this up.

If he’s like the 5th or 6th DT on a league minimum 1-year deal, sure. I’d rather take a chance on a late draft pick. At least you might get a good player with fresher legs. Nnadi just isn’t good anymore. I wonder if he’s dealt with injuries that we just didn’t hear about.

Run stopping DTs are usually cheap as hell in FA, replacing him shouldn't be hard.

[RunKC]

FWIW I see a few tweets that said Jeff Darlington reported they want to keep Brown Jr, as shocking as that may be.

I don’t think they want to trade him unless that have no choice. But he may force Veach’s hand

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Right. Forgot about that. Bottom line, Nnadi hasn't been himself for some time now, for whatever reason.

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

And the eye test backs this up.

If he’s like the 5th or 6th DT on a league minimum 1-year deal, sure. I’d rather take a chance on a late draft pick. At least you might get a good player with fresher legs. Nnadi just isn’t good anymore. I wonder if he’s dealt with injuries that we just didn’t hear about.

To be honest, looking all the analytics over the past few years, Nnadi really wasn't ever THAT good. He was average - maybe - and went from there to complete suckage by the start of this season.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Just one point of clarification:

Nnadi actually fell off middle of last year. Somebody charted his run stops over the summer and he was like near the bottom of the league.

Yup.

Dude fell apart in 2021 and his 2022 season was his first step out of the league.

He may have 2 years left in the NFL but at this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a street free agent in September. He was just incredibly bad. I'm a little surprised we didn't fire up Shelton, to be honest. Nnadi, unfortunately, brings nothing to the table these days.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Um, this is our list of DTs;

Chris Jones
Khalen Saunders
Brandon Williams
Derrick Nnadi
Danny Shelton
Tershawn Wharton

Are you seriously telling us that Khalen isn't better than every DT we have not named Chris Jones? Never mind that; he is actually the 2nd best DT on the team, there's no argument there to be had.

Brandon was on a one year contract, I think, so who knows what happens with him.

Danny, well, let's just say I'd be shocked if he came back.

Wharton? Not even sure how he's still on the team.

Nnadi's play kind of fell off a cliff in 2022. Not sure he has much left in the tank at this point.

I think Khalen actually had a mini-breakout season in 2022. Enough that I think he's coming back, and most of those other guys get scrapped for new blood in 2023.

I didn't say he wasn't better than the lot after Chris Jones. That doesn't mean he's good.

JB hit the nail on the proverbial head about him coming off the ball like a launched missile... straight up. He gets plowed by blockers far more often than he doesn't. I mean, it's not that hard to see. He does not make very many plays.

I'm honestly really concerned for Nnadi. He went from really solid to really bad almost overnight. I don't know if it's undiagnosed concussions or what is at play but it's odd just how quickly he became very bad. Watching him run completely the wrong way in the Super Bowl as a DT was, at best, terrifying to see.

The DT position needs to be completely reworked this off-season. We need at least 3 new faces. Bring back either Wharton or Saunders on a 1-year deal, and add a couple of free agents and a draft pick.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

To be honest, looking all the analytics over the past few years, Nnadi really wasn't ever THAT good. He was average - maybe - and went from there to complete suckage by the start of this season.

This is true; Nnadi was never great. He was your basic 'decent' against the run. But when you think about how bad the rest of the DL was vs. the run back in 2018, Nnadi stood out because he was at least reliably average to slightly above average.

But now he just seems washed.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by kccrow

The DT position needs to be completely reworked this off-season. We need at least 3 new faces. Bring back either Wharton or Saunders on a 1-year deal, and add a couple of free agents and a draft pick.

I wonder what it would take to keep Saunders on say a 3-year deal? He's definitely the pick of the litter. He at least made some plays on a regular basis. I can't remember Wharton ever doing anything in 2022.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

I wonder what it would take to keep Saunders on say a 3-year deal? He's definitely the pick of the litter. He at least made some plays on a regular basis. I can't remember Wharton ever doing anything in 2022.

If you can keep the dollars down a bit by giving more years, I’d be all for it.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

If you can keep the dollars down a bit by giving more years, I’d be all for it.

I would as well. The DL was the most patch-work unit by far, and although Cullen and Spags made it work, I'd really rather not watch them have to repeat that miracle in 2023. Especially if they had to tear it down to basically the studs. At least keep Saunders, who actually can play.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I didn't say he wasn't better than the lot after Chris Jones. That doesn't mean he's good.

JB hit the nail on the proverbial head about him coming off the ball like a launched missile... straight up. He gets plowed by blockers far more often than he doesn't. I mean, it's not that hard to see. He does not make very many plays.

I'm honestly really concerned for Nnadi. He went from really solid to really bad almost overnight. I don't know if it's undiagnosed concussions or what is at play but it's odd just how quickly he became very bad. Watching him run completely the wrong way in the Super Bowl as a DT was, at best, terrifying to see.

The DT position needs to be completely reworked this off-season. We need at least 3 new faces. Bring back either Wharton or Saunders on a 1-year deal, and add a couple of free agents and a draft pick.

I think I'd bring back both.

[Mecca]

Wharton is under contract...the rest aren't well other than Jones.

[Pitt Gorilla]

I'm one of OBJ's biggest supporters on this board and even I am beginning to think we don't do a long-term deal. Going forward, I think you're going to have to be highly-unusual/special to get paid the big bucks. Guys like Pat, Kelce, Jones, Gay, Nick are big deal type guys. As much as I like him, I'm not sure OBJ is. Hell, Hill was clearly one and Bert still had a ceiling.

I'm wondering if Beach goes looking for his Salyer (or even Slater) this season in the draft. It's a challenge but it'd also be one more feather in his cap.

Order of likelihood in my mind (with absolutely ZERO inside info):

1) OBJ plays on the tag and his successor gets drafted
2) OBJ is somehow traded (non-exclusive tender?)
3) OBJ signs a below-ish market deal
4) OBJ signs an above-market deal

[raybec 4]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I'm one of OBJ's biggest supporters on this board and even I am beginning to think we don't do a long-term deal. Going forward, I think you're going to have to be highly-unusual/special to get paid the big bucks. Guys like Pat, Kelce, Jones, Gay, Nick are big deal type guys. As much as I like him, I'm not sure OBJ is. Hell, Hill was clearly one and Bert still had a ceiling.

I'm wondering if Beach goes looking for his Salyer (or even Slater) this season in the draft. It's a challenge but it'd also be one more feather in his cap.

Order of likelihood in my mind (with absolutely ZERO inside info):

1) OBJ plays on the tag and his successor gets drafted
2) OBJ is somehow traded (non-exclusive tender?)
3) OBJ signs a below-ish market deal
4) OBJ signs an above-market deal

I think #1 is probably the most likely scenario but I would say him signing what we would consider to be an above market deal is probably #2. Of course, CP's version of above market is tree fiddy and an expired movie coupon.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Wharton is under contract...the rest aren't well other than Jones.

Wharton is an RFA. They'd have to tender him at 2.6 million or sign him to a contract. Don't think he's worth the tender.