The Kansas City Chiefs’ left tackle of the past two seasons has found a new home in free agency.
According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, former Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s currently finalizing a four-year contract worth over $64 million with a signing bonus of $31 million, which is the largest ever for an offensive lineman.
That’s still quite a bit less than the six-year extension worth up to $139 million that the Chiefs reportedly offered Brown Jr. a year ago. It seems that he might have overplayed his hand in negotiations with Kansas City, just a bit.
Sources: Four-time Pro Bowl tackle and Super Bowl champ Orlando Brown Jr. is finalizing a four-year, $64.092 million front-loaded deal with the #Bengals that includes an over $31M signing bonus — largest ever for an o-lineman.
Brown’s agent, Michael Portner, confirmed the deal. pic.twitter.com/GFFZX0zLrs
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2023
Brown, 26, was a former trade acquisition by Kansas City via the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the 2021 NFL season. He wanted an opportunity to play the left tackle position and the Chiefs gave him just that with 39 starts (incl. postseason) over the past two years. In his first full season starting at left tackle, Brown allowed six sacks, 45 pressures and seven penalties on the year (via PFF). In his second season, he totaled four sacks, 58 pressures and seven penalties again (via PFF).
Now, he’ll go to an AFC rival in free agency, with an opportunity to play against the team that drafted him twice a year. He’ll also get an opportunity to play against Kansas City during the regular season and potentially during the playoffs.
