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

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

DJ clearly bills in .2 increments.

.10; you pay for the first minute, get the next 5 free!

[SAGA45]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Until he doesn't sign it. Then what are you doing?

That's a different discussion and one that was already had for the majority of last offseason, OTA's and minicamp. My point in response to your original comment was that it's not up to Brown(or any player for that matter) whether ot not the get tagged. The team and the team alone holds that power.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by tredadda

While option two is definitely it is a remote one. One can safely infer from what we do know that most likely option 1 is the correct one. Looking at a few things, here is what can be inferred:

1. They could not come to an agreement last year.
2. Brown signed the tag and bet on himself
3. In doing so he had another Pro Bowl season along with anchoring a line that gave up zero sacks in the SB against a team that finished third all time in sacks.
4. As such his asking price would not have stagnated and if anything probably went up significantly.
5. Tagging a guy a second time is a bad look for the team if he were to even agree to it.
6. No point in tagging him if the possibility of signing him long term was not available.

It's all covered in 1 and 3. They couldn't come to an agreement last year. And all Brown did was go to the PB and anchor one of the best offensive line performances of all time.

Sure, it's possible his asking price has gone up. Probable even.

It's also possible that the Chiefs think he's worth MORE than what he wanted last year.

We simply don't know anything.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Until he doesn't sign it. Then what are you doing?

I think Veach knew that if Brown called his bluff, he'd have to rescind the tag.

If the agent says "We're not signing it and he has $20 million in his pocket from playing football so we're not playing on it - ever", Veach can't very well go into camp hoping he'll change his mind with no real plan at LT.

Meanwhile the $20 million he'd use to fill that hole or put together a plan B is tied up in the tag.

So he'd have to rescind it and by then the market has dried up. That's why I think they won't use the draft to get handle the OT position and why Jawaan Taylor still seems like the most logical alternative.

If they were content using the draft, they'd go that route to build in their plan B without worrying about the cap being tied up. But they WANT that cap space available so they simply aren't going to put the tag on him.

The more I think on it, the more obvious the justification becomes.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think Veach knew that if Brown called his bluff, he'd have to rescind the tag.

If the agent says "We're not signing it and he has $20 million in his pocket from playing football so we're not playing on it - ever", Veach can't very well go into camp hoping he'll change his mind with no real plan at LT.

Meanwhile the $20 million he'd use to fill that hole or put together a plan B is tied up in the tag.

So he'd have to rescind it and by then the market has dried up. That's why I think they won't use the draft to get handle the OT position and why Jawaan Taylor still seems like the most logical alternative.

If they were content using the draft, they'd go that route to build in their plan B without worrying about the cap being tied up. But they WANT that cap space available so they simply aren't going to put the tag on him.

The more I think on it, the more obvious the justification becomes.

I'm sure you've said it before earlier but do you think that Taylor can do an adequate job at LT?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think Veach knew that if Brown called his bluff, he'd have to rescind the tag.

If the agent says "We're not signing it and he has $20 million in his pocket from playing football so we're not playing on it - ever", Veach can't very well go into camp hoping he'll change his mind with no real plan at LT.

Meanwhile the $20 million he'd use to fill that hole or put together a plan B is tied up in the tag.

So he'd have to rescind it and by then the market has dried up. That's why I think they won't use the draft to get handle the OT position and why Jawaan Taylor still seems like the most logical alternative.

If they were content using the draft, they'd go that route to build in their plan B without worrying about the cap being tied up. But they WANT that cap space available so they simply aren't going to put the tag on him.

The more I think on it, the more obvious the justification becomes.

Yep.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by SAGA45

That's a different discussion and one that was already had for the majority of last offseason, OTA's and minicamp. My point in response to your original comment was that it's not up to Brown(or any player for that matter) whether ot not the get tagged. The team and the team alone holds that power.

He'd made about $3.5 million in his career and had no leverage last season. He's not gonna pass on a $16 million, life altering payday.

There wasn't a realistic possibility he wouldn't sign the tag last season. He just didn't want to go through full OTAs, IMO.

This season it's different and we knew it would be.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It's all covered in 1 and 3. They couldn't come to an agreement last year. And all Brown did was go to the PB and anchor one of the best offensive line performances of all time.

Sure, it's possible his asking price has gone up. Probable even.

It's also possible that the Chiefs think he's worth MORE than what he wanted last year.

We simply don't know anything.

True. I don't disagree with you. I could be wrong and will gladly acknowledge that if they sign him. I just struggle to see the gap between what he wanted last year vs this year and what KC offered him last year vs this year closing any. In my opinion it has probably widened. The only unknown is what the team truly feels his value is. It could be higher than what we think, I just don't know on that.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

I'm sure you've said it before earlier but do you think that Taylor can do an adequate job at LT?

It depends on how much he ends up getting paid.

Sure, Tayler can do an adequate job but at what cost? If he gets into the $18M range, the salary save isn't enough to justify the potential drop-off in production. He have to come in cheaper than that for it to really be worth it.

JMHO

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by tredadda

True. I don't disagree with you. I could be wrong and will gladly acknowledge that if they sign him. I just struggle to see the gap between what he wanted last year vs this year and what KC offered him last year vs this year closing any. In my opinion it has probably widened. The only unknown is what the team truly feels his value is. It could be higher than what we think, I just don't know on that.

And in the end, that's really all I'm saying. We just don't know, at least not yet. It will become much more clear soon, though. If they're truly going to let him test FA, he'll get offers the second the new league year begins next week.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think Veach knew that if Brown called his bluff, he'd have to rescind the tag.

If the agent says "We're not signing it and he has $20 million in his pocket from playing football so we're not playing on it - ever", Veach can't very well go into camp hoping he'll change his mind with no real plan at LT.

Meanwhile the $20 million he'd use to fill that hole or put together a plan B is tied up in the tag.

So he'd have to rescind it and by then the market has dried up. That's why I think they won't use the draft to get handle the OT position and why Jawaan Taylor still seems like the most logical alternative.

If they were content using the draft, they'd go that route to build in their plan B without worrying about the cap being tied up. But they WANT that cap space available so they simply aren't going to put the tag on him.

The more I think on it, the more obvious the justification becomes.

Any possibility they are doing this to possibly look at locking in Sneed/Gay/Bolton (if they are eligible to extend him yet)? Not sure, but wondering if that free space is for something like that.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It depends on how much he ends up getting paid.

Sure, Tayler can do an adequate job but at what cost? If he gets into the $18M range, the salary save isn't enough to justify the potential drop-off in production. He have to come in cheaper than that for it to really be worth it.

JMHO

It would be the flexibility of the contract and the long term deal making his 2023 cap number much lower than the tag.

Orlando wanted full guarantees beyond signing.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Any possibility they are doing this to possibly look at locking in Sneed/Gay/Bolton (if they are eligible to extend him yet)? Not sure, but wondering if that free space is for something like that.

I think it's more about the guys that are current FAs. Veach had his hands tied early in FA last year with the Hill deal and he had to pivot last minute after the trade. It worked out but I don't think that was his plan.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by RunKC

It would be the flexibility of the contract and the long term deal making his 2023 cap number much lower than the tag.

Orlando wanted full guarantees beyond signing.

Except that Veach explicitly stated he wants guys that are going to be here for the long haul. If you don't give Taylor those guarantees, he's essentially signing a standard contract that, while it lowers the initial cap hit, makes the out years cut years. That's really not a long-term strategy, IMO.

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Isn't Taylor a RT?