NFL free agency is underway as the legal tampering period has begun around the league.
With that, media insiders are earning their paychecks on March 13 and one new report on free agency pertained to the Kansas City Chiefs. During an article with Sports Illustrated, veteran insider Albert Breer discussed the free agency market at the offensive tackle position — “where demand always outweighs supply.”
We’ve already seen reports from ESPN’s Dianna Russini that former San Francisco 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey is working toward a new deal with the Chicago Bears, who were named as a potential suitor for Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. That’s good news for KC, but it doesn’t mean Brown will return in 2023.
Breer wrote that Brown’s end result “could be a little more complicated” then other free agent offensive linemen. “The Chiefs aren’t against bringing him back,” he continued, “they just want a long-term solution at left tackle, rather than a one-year fix.”
The S.I. insider went on to explain that this is why general manager Brett Veach chose not to franchise tag Brown for the second straight offseason. “And if not Kansas City, it’s going to be interesting to see how many teams are not just interested, but interested in playing [Brown] at left tackle,” Breer added.
Orlando Brown Jr. ‘Adamant’ About Playing Left Tackle
Later in the report from Breer, he noted that Brown is not considering a position change as far as he knows.
“My understanding is he’s adamant about staying on the left side,” Breer relayed. “If he sticks to his guns, that could limit his market, especially considering the number of teams playing [Kyle] Shanahan-influenced schemes that favor lighter, more mobile linemen.”
With the Bears seemingly ‘out’ on Brown — plus the likelihood that the Super Bowl champion left tackle could prove to be stubborn as ever this spring — it’s possible that the KC free agent takes his time in signing a new deal. Either way, we should find out pretty soon how proactive Veach and the Chiefs are on the open market.
In 2022, their strategy was patience all around, attacking the second wave of free agency. What will the strategy be in 2023?
Source:: Heavy.com
