One of the best lineman in football won't get a chance to speak with other teams in free agency
It appears that the first Domino's has fallen in negotiations over which NFL free agents will be hit with the first franchise tag. The league's deadline for assigning a tag to teams -- should they choose to use one -- is Tuesday, March 8 at 4 p.m., and the Orlando Browns are the first to receive one. The Kansas City Chiefs will reportedly apply the franchise tag to the Browns before the deadline, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, which should start a cascade of other assigned tags around the league.
The Chiefs have long hoped a long-term deal could be worked out with the Browns that would allow him to avoid pulling the trigger on a tag that was fully guaranteed $16.7 from his salary cap. Million is projected to be made, but it was not to be. Both sides will still have time to conclude a multi-year contract, even with the tag in place, with the deadline for doing so being mid-July – at which point the Browns are under the tag. will be forced to play. 2022 season if there is no new contract.
And until a deal is struck, the $16.7 million hit will remain on the Chiefs' salary cap, which will affect what they'll be able to or won't do in free agency.
Brown is a three-time pro bowler who made his way to the NFL in 2018 via the Baltimore Ravens, a former third-round pick who quickly made a name for himself. After playing mostly on offensive guard, Brown made it clear he wanted to play tackles, but that was not in the Ravens' plan, so he struck a trade deal with the Chiefs to send Brown to Kansas City in 2021. The field is running for head coach Andy Reid to help defend former league MVP Patrick Mahomes, earning another Pro Bowl in the process.
After trading several picks to get him and now seeing how impressive he really is, the Chiefs are not going to give Brown a chance to make offers from other teams while they try to accept him.