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

[poolboy]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

If only we had another TE that was experienced in the system that we could use to spell him some.

Like...you know...the one we've got?

There is probably a calculated reason for that

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Yeah, except neither proved to be consistently reliable. And I really had high hopes for Fortson more than Gray. I thought it would be a breakout year for him. I would like to know what happened, other than the injury bit. Because that doesn't cover the entire season for him.

Look, I already said we could run this group back and still make the playoffs. I'd bet my life's savings on that.

But the margin's getting a bit thin, especially at WR. And Trav is not getting any younger. Don't know how there's any argument about any of that. Those are literally the facts.

When was Gray unreliable? Did I miss that?

Fortson's only problem is staying healthy.

We could use a guy.

You're looking at KC in a vacuum. Nobody has a team that's rock solid top to bottom, not even the teams that haven't had to pay their QB yet.

We'll be fine. Veach, Reid, Spags and Patrick will figure it out and field a contender, just like every year.

[New World Order]

Is Megatron high or something

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

I must've missed where those plays went to Juju.

I could have sworn they went to, you know, the 'cupboard is bare' guys.

What are we talking about? Ah, are you talking about Tent and Corndog? you don't actually expect Andy to call those two plays all season in 2023?

Toney, if healthy for the season, will be basically WR2. He's good enough to be a WR1, but this will be his first full season with the team, so WR2 is probably his ceiling for now.

Skyy . . . we'll see. I've had high hopes since he was drafted, but there's a noticeable lack of burst in a lot of his tape, and he's still raw as far as being a NFL WR is concerned. I think he'll have a nice season in 2023, but I'm not sure he's going to be an impact player this season. Certainly I'm not expecting him to carry any of Trav's load. Too far from that yet.

[Chris Meck]

It's the same post-Hill trade panic we saw last year.

My dudes, it's going to be fine. Can I guarantee we'll win the SB? Of course not. Can I guarantee we'll be right there in the thick of contention? You bet your ass.

Veach, Reid, Spags, and Patrick will figure it out and field the best 52 plus Mahomes they can fit under the cap without screwing the future and it'll be fine.

[staylor26]

The great thing about getting a SB this year is that it allows you to continue to confidently play the long game like they did last year.

There's no need to go all-in next season. Just keep drafting well and find your spots in free agency. That doesn't mean that they can't make any big moves, just that they don't have to.

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

It's the same post-Hill trade panic we saw last year.

My dudes, it's going to be fine. Can I guarantee we'll win the SB? Of course not. Can I guarantee we'll be right there in the thick of contention? You bet your ass.

Veach, Reid, Spags, and Patrick will figure it out and field the best 52 plus Mahomes they can fit under the cap without screwing the future and it'll be fine.

Is there anyone in this thread really panicking? Losing Hill was huge because he was a generational talent that made Alex Smith the best deep ball passer in the NFL. Losing OBJ is like 6% of that.

The path ahead is less clear but we're in good shape. And it'll be fun.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

What are we talking about? Ah, are you talking about Tent and Corndog? you don't actually expect Andy to call those two plays all season in 2023?

Toney, if healthy for the season, will be basically WR2. He's good enough to be a WR1, but this will be his first full season with the team, so WR2 is probably his ceiling for now.

Skyy . . . we'll see. I've had high hopes since he was drafted, but there's a noticeable lack of burst in a lot of his tape, and he's still raw as far as being a NFL WR is concerned. I think he'll have a nice season in 2023, but I'm not sure he's going to be an impact player this season. Certainly I'm not expecting him to carry any of Trav's load. Too far from that yet.

Are you high?

The point of using 'corndog' as an example is to illustrate that if you just give Andy Reid good football players, he'll find a way to beat you.

This year's version of the offense was totally different than the Hill years, with very different skillsets, and was BETTER than it had been in years. It evolved.

Just keep stacking good football players, and Big Red will figure out how to get them ten yards ****ing open in the damned Super Bowl, for ****sake.

Personally, I'm for solidifying the OT situation on both sides and increasing our pass rush and totally unconcerned with the WR room. Like not even a little bit.

We'll add a draftee, probably day two, and another TE in there somewhere, maybe a cheap vet or two and it'll be fine. Because we've been SHOWN it will be fine.

There were games with no Juju, and it was fine. There were games with no Toney, and it was fine. No Hardman? Fine.

It's FINE.

We need to build the WR room through the draft and develop those players, while Kelce is still Kelce. Hopkins does nothing for that. He's another older player that you have to replace sooner than later. You know what develops players? Actually PLAYING.

It's going to be fine.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

Is there anyone in this thread really panicking? Losing Hill was huge because he was a generational talent that made Alex Smith the best deep ball passer in the NFL. Losing OBJ is like 6% of that.

The path ahead is less clear but we're in good shape. And it'll be fun.

I agree with you entirely.

It's the guys that can't see what the path is that are panicking, and thinking if we don't sign Hopkins we're screwed.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by staylor26

The great thing about getting a SB this year is that it allows you to continue to confidently play the long game like they did last year.

There's no need to go all-in next season. Just keep drafting well and find your spots in free agency. That doesn't mean that they can't make any big moves, just that they don't have to.

EXACTLY.

[Chris Meck]

Look at the curious case of Skyy Moore.

KC knew he wasn't going to leapfrog four veteran WR for snaps, so they tried him at PR. That didn't go so well (at least until the AFCCG). They telegraphed that this would be a learning year and barring injury, he wasn't going to play a ton. Still, by the end, he made some big plays, right?

Now look at Christian Watson. Boy, did he stink it up the first half of the season. And then, all of the sudden mid-year he's scoring TD's all over the place. Kid figured it out. It takes reps to do that. Now Watson got ahead of Moore, because he played like shit for half the year, but he played and worked through it, figured out the speed of the NFL and where he was supposed to be in the offense and now GB's got themselves a good WR.

There's no reason at all to think Moore won't make a huge jump in year two. I think Andy expects that. he's said as much.

Maybe we ought to figure he knows what he's doing at this point.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

When was Gray unreliable? Did I miss that?

Fortson's only problem is staying healthy.

We could use a guy.

You're looking at KC in a vacuum. Nobody has a team that's rock solid top to bottom, not even the teams that haven't had to pay their QB yet.

We'll be fine. Veach, Reid, Spags and Patrick will figure it out and field a contender, just like every year.

Who's trying to have a team that's 'rock solid' from top to bottom? How about NFL functional?

I know we can't afford to have a receiver group like CIN/PHI or whoever. But you really don't see an issue with MVS as our most productive WR? He had 8 games where he caught fewer than 3 balls. Just a pair of TDs in the regular season. Between MVS/KT/SM we have just 1120 yards receiving and 4 TDs.

Show me a game Gray caught more than 2-3 balls. Actually, never mind, he never did. Most number of balls he caught in a game was 3. Snared one TD in 2023. for a whopping 299 yds. That's not really carrying much weight.

And I like Gray. Have since he became a Chief. But he's probably not going to shoulder any of Travis' load. He's decent coming off the bench, so to speak.

Oh, I know, everyone's going to be better in 2023, and I believe that they will. But thousands of yards better? **** it; let's settle on 1,500 yards better? Wouldn't want to overreach here. 300-400% more TDs? I sure hope so.


My point is just that we ain't flush, bud. I have more faith than most in Andy and definitely more than most in Spags, but we could use a real talent injection at WR. That's all.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Chris Meck

Look at the curious case of Skyy Moore.

KC knew he wasn't going to leapfrog four veteran WR for snaps, so they tried him at PR. That didn't go so well (at least until the AFCCG). They telegraphed that this would be a learning year and barring injury, he wasn't going to play a ton. Still, by the end, he made some big plays, right?

Now look at Christian Watson. Boy, did he stink it up the first half of the season. And then, all of the sudden mid-year he's scoring TD's all over the place. Kid figured it out. It takes reps to do that. Now Watson got ahead of Moore, because he played like shit for half the year, but he played and worked through it, figured out the speed of the NFL and where he was supposed to be in the offense and now GB's got themselves a good WR.

There's no reason at all to think Moore won't make a huge jump in year two. I think Andy expects that. he's said as much.

Maybe we ought to figure he knows what he's doing at this point.

Bingo

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

The path ahead is less clear but we're in good shape. And it'll be fun.

from Imgflip Meme Generator

"And championship winning organizations don't try something this dangerous without having thought the matter through..."

(and every single one of you read that in Fred Thompson's drawl...)

[RunKC]

Veach remade a defense with 9 new starters in one offseason, built a brand new OL in one offseason and rebuilt a secondary/WR units in one offseason after trading a HOF talent.

I have so much trust in Veach, Andy and Patrick. I’m not worried about this very much at all.