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

[tredadda]

One question for the experts here, how do incentive laden contracts affect the salary cap?

[O.city]

Originally Posted by tredadda

One question for the experts here, how do incentive laden contracts affect the salary cap?

I believe the incentives are added onto the next seasons cap somehow? I may be way way off here.

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief

Yeah, if he's only going for money he's going to be a Bear. He is perfect for their offense and I'm sure they will be all in on him.

He got his ring! Oh well. He’s not worth the coin he’s asking.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by tredadda

ESPN blames Wylie's low rankings on Mahomes holding the ball too long and always looking to escape.

I thought pass block win rate was measured by winning the Rep at 2.5 seconds. Am I mistaken? If true, pat has nothing to do with it

[O.city]

If the Harrison kid from OU makes it close, I'd trade up for him I think. He's really athletic and would fit really well what they want.

[Rainbarrel]

Originally Posted by tredadda

One question for the experts here, how do incentive laden contracts affect the salary cap?

They've carried over unmet incentives into the next year's cap before. Making that year's cap bigger. Things change every year it seems though. Someone could abuse it

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

I think he is on the verge of retiring, so maybe playing his last year with his brother would stave off retirement for another year.

And being a backup would help his body.

Sent from my moto g stylus 5G using Tapatalk

Yea an All Pro center who made $10MM last season is going to come to KC to change positions and ride the bench for peanuts so he can hang with his brother.

[The Franchise]

As Chiefs look for a new left tackle, 10 options to replace Orlando Brown Jr.

https://theathletic.com/4289670/2023...ement-options/

Donovan Smith
An eight-year veteran, Smith has played his entire career for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who released him Tuesday for salary cap reasons. (The move created $15.25 million in cap space while adding a $9.9 million cap hit in dead money.) Smith’s performance dipped last season, as he surrendered six sacks and led all NFL tackles with 12 penalties that were accepted by the opposing team.

The positive for the Chiefs is that Smith is healthy, and he has been an above-average left tackle for much of his career. In 2020, Smith played 15 games in the regular season and was stellar in the Bucs’ postseason run, which ended with them winning Super Bowl LV.

Nate Tice, a former NFL offense quality control assistant and former college quarterback, said Wednesday on “The Athletic Football Show” podcast that the Chiefs could sign Smith at a lower cost than Brown while perhaps receiving similar production.

“(He’s) the same tier of player,” Tice said of Smith when comparing his skills and playing style to Brown. “That would make a lot of sense, and then they’re saving money to make other moves. … I could be totally wrong here, but something’s up in Kansas City. I really do think that.

“It might just be a couple minor moves and that’s why they’re piecemealing this all together as far as cap space. But Kansas City is interesting to me as far as they are trying to splash (at another position) somewhere. I’m just trying to figure them out.”

Taylor Lewan
In terms of blocking talent, Lewan is an excellent option for the Chiefs, as he’s a three-time Pro Bowler, a leader in the locker room and has excellent technique. However, Lewan will be 32 when next season begins and has missed significant time in two of the past three seasons as a result of two torn ACLs.

A nine-year veteran, Lewan was released last month by the Tennessee Titans. At the time, he told the team’s official website that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue playing or retire. But Wednesday morning, Lewan expressed his interest in joining the Chiefs, using his Twitter account to post the eyes emoji at the team’s account.

Isaiah Wynn
Wynn is The Athletic’s 38th-ranked free agent, a four-year veteran. He spent his first three seasons playing left tackle for the Patriots but was moved to right tackle last year under new offensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The results were disappointing, as Wynn had the worst season of his career, surrendering five sacks in nine games.

At age 27, Wynn is capable of returning to his previous form — or perhaps improving in a new scheme.

“I’d be peppering him a little bit,” Tice said. “I know his (foot) injury is why he’s on the market, but he’s another name to keep a tab on.”

Kelvin Beachum
Not known for flash, Beachum, 34, could be a solid option for the Chiefs as a dependable player who started at left tackle in seven of his 11 seasons. He played multiple positions on the line in 2022, starting all 17 games for the Arizona Cardinals. In 740 pass-blocking snaps, he surrendered six sacks and 39 pressures, the same number as Brown.

Beachum could be interested in joining a Super Bowl contender even if his role is to be a spot starter as the Chiefs’ swing tackle in case of an injury.

Paris Johnson Jr. (draft option)
Many analysts consider Johnson one of the best tackles in this year’s draft class, meaning the Chiefs would have to make a significant trade to move up in the first round to get the Ohio State product. One possible target for the Chiefs is the 10th pick, possessed by the Philadelphia Eagles. The reason for targeting that spot is because Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft expert, projected Johnson to be selected by the Titans with the 11th pick earlier this week in his latest mock draft.

“A fluid big man, Paris Johnson Jr. is quick out of his stance, with the movement skills to mirror pass rushers around the arc or show off his pulling range in the run game,” Brugler said last month before the league’s scouting combine. “Johnson needs to show better control at the top of the rush, but his issues are fixable and scouts speak highly of his football character.”

Broderick Jones (draft option)
Another prospect worthy of trading up for appears to be Jones, who excelled in college at Georgia. As a redshirt freshman, Jones started at left tackle in the final four games of the 2021 season to help the Bulldogs win the national championship, earning SEC all-freshman honors. Last season, he started all 15 games at left tackle — and the Bulldogs won another national championship.

“With his above-average movement skills, Jones is considered OT1 in this class by several NFL teams,” Brugler said last month. “He is agile with his feet and has quick-strike hands that keep his frame square to rushers. Jones comes close to losing his balance more often than you’d like to see, but there is no doubting his natural talent.”

Anton Harrison (draft option)
One draft prospect projected to be available late in the first round is Harrison, who started all 12 regular-season games at Oklahoma and played the final 11 at left tackle, earning All-Big 12 first-team honors. On film, Harrison has excellent footwork, and his second effort in pass protection is also impressive.

Andre Dillard
Dillard, a 2019 first-round pick by the Eagles, lost his starting left tackle spot to Jordan Mailata during training camp in 2021. But at age 27, he is healthy and entering the prime of his career. His best production came in 2021 in a limited role, when he surrendered only one sack in 227 pass-blocking snaps.

George Fant
The most games Fant has started in a season is 16 with the New York Jets in 2021, when he allowed just two sacks in 562 pass-blocking snaps. But he sustained a knee injury and wasn’t the same player last season, missing nine games and splitting his snaps between both tackle positions. If Fant is healthier in 2023, he could provide serviceable production for the Chiefs.

David Bakhtiari or Yosh Nijman
Technically, Bakhtiari is not a free agent. But the 10-year veteran with the Green Bay Packers is considered one of the league’s best left tackles and could be a trade option for the Chiefs, particularly if superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return to the team.

Bakhtiari played in just 11 games last season after returning from a major knee injury (plus complications), but when he was on the field, he was excellent, surrendering only one sack in 323 pass-blocking snaps.

If Bakhtiari is not available, the Chiefs could try to acquire Nijman, a three-year veteran who is one of the Packers’ restricted free agents. In the past two seasons, Nijman, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Virginia Tech, has started 21 games and played at both tackle positions to help replace Bakhtiari’s production. In 421 pass-blocking snaps last season, Nijman surrendered five sacks and 27 pressures.

When discussing Nijman on an earlier podcast, Tice predicted that the Packers will tender him with second-round pick compensation should he sign with another team. Tice believes the Chiefs should be in favor of such a move.

“If I was in the tackle market, I would be sniffing around,” Tice said of Nijman. “I would be willing to give up a middle-round pick or a second-round pick for him. He’s proven that he can play left tackle. He played right tackle this (past) year. That’s the guy, for me, that I would be willing to spend. He’s a viable, solid to even good left or right tackle.

“That’s a name that I would have circled, highlighted and starred.”

[BossChief]

“In 421 pass-blocking snaps last season, Nijman surrendered five sacks and 27 pressures.”

In 893 pass blocks snaps, Orlando gave up 4 sacks and 58 pressures…and Orlando did so as a left tackle with Nijman at mostly RT.

Ijs

[staylor26]

“(He’s) the same tier of player,” Tice said of Smith when comparing his skills and playing style to Brown. “That would make a lot of sense, and then they’re saving money to make other moves. … I could be totally wrong here, but something’s up in Kansas City. I really do think that.

“It might just be a couple minor moves and that’s why they’re piecemealing this all together as far as cap space. But Kansas City is interesting to me as far as they are trying to splash (at another position) somewhere. I’m just trying to figure them out.

I agree with this. Veach has something up his sleeve and I'm very curious what it is.

[BossChief]

Last offseason Veach said he could only take a “small swing” with Orlando on the tag but that if they could have extended him, it would open up space to take a “big swing”.

This will be a mostly mild offseason..but there are going to be 2 big moves we may not see coming.

[RunKC]

Just like we all thought. They met again last week and just like last year, they were still “miles apart” on their demands.

Yeah. There’s a reason James Palmer said zero chance he stays.

Once again, the Chiefs entered contract negotiations last week with star left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. And once again, the two parties felt like they were miles apart.@ByNateTaylor analyzes possible replacements.https://t.co/97s3wKcLuq

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) March 9, 2023

[O.city]

Getting a cheaper LT would really open them up to be able to go after a big piece or two somewhere.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Just like we all thought. They met again last week and just like last year, they were still “miles apart” on their demands.

Yeah. There’s a reason James Palmer said zero chance he stays.

Once again, the Chiefs entered contract negotiations last week with star left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. And once again, the two parties felt like they were miles apart.@ByNateTaylor analyzes possible replacements.https://t.co/97s3wKcLuq

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) March 9, 2023

I'm really curious to see what other teams are gonna offer him. Tyrann Mathieu thought he was gonna get a big pay day and didn't get signed forever. I know age played a factor, but he didn't get close to what he was trying to get.

[O.city]

Bahktiari is an interesting one I hadn't thought of. They have a 10 mil roster bonus due here pretty soon, how would the financials work there if we traded for him