Why KC Chiefs’ GM says team has ‘ton of time’ to work out Orlando Brown Jr.’s contract

Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has yet to sign his franchise tender, which carries a $16.6 million price tag.

This isn’t necessarily a surprise — the deadline for doing so isn’t until July 15. Brown isn’t currently represented by an agent, and that could be a contributing factor. If no long-term deal is in place by the deadline, Brown would play the 2022 regular season under the tag, provided he chooses to sign it.

By the same token, the Chiefs aren’t in a rush to get something done with Brown right now. Not with the 2022 NFL Draft looming in less than a week.

“He’s kind of redoing the agent process, and where we are right now and in addition to the Tyreek Hill trade with our cap and having flexibility now, it allows us to take a step back and get through this draft,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Friday.

“We certainly anticipate that once the draft is over, I’m sure there will be a point that there’s a finality to him going out there and finding an agent.”

This much is certain: Brown has set himself up to be paid as one of the top left tackles in the NFL since joining the Chiefs via a blockbuster trade with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason.

Brown, who turns 26 on May 2, was central to the Chiefs’ total makeover of the offensive line tasked with protecting superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Brown started 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs in 2021, missing his 17th start because of a calf injury.

He protected Mahomes blind side well en route to a third straight Pro Bowl selection. So he’s proven his value to the Chiefs through on-field performance, but recent experience has taught the franchise the value of patience in such situations.

In 2020, for instance, the Chiefs used their franchise tag early in the offseason on defensive tackle Chris Jones ... before signing him to a four-year deal worth $85 million a day shy of the league’s deadline.

“We have a ton of time to talk,” Veach said, “and you guys know how the Chris Jones deal went, where it was right there toward the end. That’s typically how all these things go where there’s no rush on either side.”

The Chiefs’ GM said he wants Brown to take his time in evaluating whether he wants to secure a new agent or perhaps enter this next stage of contract negotiations representing himself.

“That’s a big decision,” Veach said,”and I don’t want to certainly influence that either way.

“I think he’s a realty smart guy. He’ll make a great decision and whoever he decides to hire, or if he wants to represent himself, we’ll be more than happy to sit down and talk long-term extension.”