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

[O.city]

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 think it's something bigger than Taylor.

Wait....can Brian Burns play both ways?

[DJ's left nut]

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?

I think so, but admittedly it takes some projection.

It's reps like this one on the right side that make me think he can:



That's a much faster player than Taylor and he tries to set him up inside before exploding outside. Taylor gets out quick into his stance and stays square to him. He does a GREAT job keeping his shoulders over his feet and shuffles with him. Than as soon as the DE tries to bend, Taylor gets his body into him and just drives him through the turf.

I see those tools and ask "Why not?"

What's he missing? Great length, good feet, plenty of experience, he's been very durable, he's on an upward arc developmentally.

I just don't see any reason he can't. It feels like simple inertia that has had him on the right side his whole career (and of course Cam Robinson getting tagged in Jacksonville). I'd be willing to pay him near the top of the RT market with the hope/expectation that I actually end up getting him on a middle-class LT contract that he can outperform.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think so, but admittedly it takes some projection.

It's reps like this one on the right side that make me think he can:



That's a much faster player than Taylor and he tries to set him up inside before exploding outside. Taylor gets out quick into his stance and stays square to him. He does a GREAT job keeping his shoulders over his feet and shuffles with him. Than as soon as the DE tries to bend, Taylor gets his body into him and just drives him through the turf.

I see those tools and ask "Why not?"

What's he missing? Great length, good feet, plenty of experience, he's been very durable, he's on an upward arc developmentally.

I just don't see any reason he can't.

Am I missing where OBJ played for Florida because that snap at LT looks PRETTY ****ing similar to some snaps I've seen him take here.

[DJ's left nut]

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.

Nah.

Sneed and Gay are both extension eligible but those extensions that are signed a year early never mess with the year 1 money.

If there are extensions in the works for those guys, I don't imagine they'll make a meaningful impact on the 2023 cap.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think so, but admittedly it takes some projection.

It's reps like this one on the right side that make me think he can:



That's a much faster player than Taylor and he tries to set him up inside before exploding outside. Taylor gets out quick into his stance and stays square to him. He does a GREAT job keeping his shoulders over his feet and shuffles with him. Than as soon as the DE tries to bend, Taylor gets his body into him and just drives him through the turf.

I see those tools and ask "Why not?"

What's he missing? Great length, good feet, plenty of experience, he's been very durable, he's on an upward arc developmentally.

I just don't see any reason he can't. It feels like simple inertia that has had him on the right side his whole career (and of course Cam Robinson getting tagged in Jacksonville). I'd be willing to pay him near the top of the RT market with the hope/expectation that I actually end up getting him on a middle-class LT contract that he can outperform.

The real question is how he sees himself. Is he a RT with LT upside? Or does the lack of FA options this year make him feel like he's definitely a LT and deserves to get paid like one?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Am I missing where OBJ played for Florida because that snap at LT looks PRETTY ****ing similar to some snaps I've seen him take here.

Yeah, I about pointed that out.

I was going to say "Hey, Florida had him at RT but look at the ****ing slug they had tripping over his feet at LT - sometimes teams just do dumb things..."

I went with 'it was inertia' instead...

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The real question is how he sees himself. Is he a RT with LT upside? Or does the lack of FA options this year make him feel like he's definitely a LT and deserves to get paid like one?

I'm offering to pay him like one. Just not at the top of the LT market.

I've been in the $17-$18 million/yr range on him with $15-16 million/yr for the first 3 years.

Like I said - middle class LT money.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Nah.

Sneed and Gay are both extension eligible but those extensions that are signed a year early never mess with the year 1 money.

If there are extensions in the works for those guys, I don't imagine they'll make a meaningful impact on the 2023 cap.

Makes sense then. Thank you.

[Urc Burry]

-Lewan is available and has pretty much said he’s ring chasing

-Tyron Smith should be a cap casualty

-Donovan Smith might be cut/traded

-Taylor will hit the market, but will be pricy

Going from a decent LT to this week of not knowing is scary. But there are options out there. With the top 2 you are definitely drafting a guy, but not necessarily a first rounder. Veach just has bigger balls than I, because I probably would have ended up over paying Brown

[chiefforlife]

At this point I think its Dillard and a draft pick. Or possibly Wynn/Draft pick.

Taylor seems to expensive and risky to start at LT but I get the idea of playing him there for a year then moving him back to RT. It COULD work but then you have a lot of money tied up with Creed and Trey needing to get paid.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

-Lewan is available and has pretty much said he’s ring chasing

-Tyron Smith should be a cap casualty

-Donovan Smith might be cut/traded

-Taylor will hit the market, but will be pricy

Going from a decent LT to this week of not knowing is scary. But there are options out there. With the top 2 you are definitely drafting a guy, but not necessarily a first rounder. Veach just has bigger balls than I, because I probably would have ended up over paying Brown

Lewan and Tyron Smith are never ****ing healthy. No thanks. And Veach wants long term at the LT position. Taylor is the only one that gives you that.

[SAGA45]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The real question is how he sees himself. Is he a RT with LT upside? Or does the lack of FA options this year make him feel like he's definitely a LT and deserves to get paid like one?

I'd say it's definitely a combination of the two with the market being the heavier factor.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by chiefforlife

At this point I think its Dillard and a draft pick. Or possibly Wynn/Draft pick.

Taylor seems to expensive and risky to start at LT but I get the idea of playing him there for a year then moving him back to RT. It COULD work but then you have a lot of money tied up with Creed and Trey needing to get paid.

Why are you playing Taylor at LT for a year and then moving him?

[DJ's left nut]

Can someone explain to me the Andre Dillard fascination?

He's been hurt and/or nominally effective his entire career. I mean as a flyer to potentially nudge Niang off the roster? Sure - why not.

But any kind of plan that has Dillard as anything other than a swing tackle who could potentially take someone's job (as Remmers did a few years back) doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

He's not shown ANYTHING on an NFL field to this point in his career.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I'm offering to pay him like one. Just not at the top of the LT market.

I've been in the $17-$18 million/yr range on him with $15-16 million/yr for the first 3 years.

Like I said - middle class LT money.

Yeah, I'm just not seeing why we'd be all for paying $18M per for Taylor when everybody hates the idea of giving OBJ a cent more than $20M.

If Taylor wants to sign a long-term deal in the $15M range with some actual money on the back end, it makes sense for both parties. Otherwise, I'm not really sure it does.

I mean, you don't go from OBJ (as much as everybody hates him) to Taylor unless you're going to save some actual money AND get similar performance.