The regular season has come to a close, and most teams have already begun the complicated process of preparing for the 2023 season. In the coming months, we'll be covering the impending free agents most capable of shifting the balance of power in the NFL.
The Player: Orlando Brown Jr.
The blindside protector for the league's highest-scoring offense, Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. could be the most prestigious offensive lineman to hit free agency in a long, long time. Brown is a jumbo-sized (6-8, 363 lbs) four-time Pro Bowler who has appeared in 81 of a possible 82 games since entering the league as a third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. He has appeared on three top-five scoring offenses (including two top-ranked units) and helped two different quarterbacks to MVP awards (Lamar Jackson in 2019 and Patrick Mahomes in 2022).
The Fit:
Any team without a franchise left tackle in place should covet Brown. He has excelled in run-heavy and pass-heavy schemes and has overwhelming size that simply can't be taught. Whoever is willing to spend absolute top dollar to protect their quarterback should make him their offseason priority.
The Cost:
Oh boy. Brown could easily land the biggest non-quarterback deal in free agency this offseason. He played on the franchise tag in 2022, meaning the Chiefs would be required to pay him approximately $20 million on a one-year deal to tag him again. They traded a plethora of picks to acquire him in 2021; letting that investment go up in smoke would be a tough pill to swallow, but their salary cap situation and a potential holdout may force their hand. If he hits unrestricted free agency, he's certain to become one of the league's highest-paid offensive linemen. He could even flirt with Trent Williams' colossal $23.01 million annual average.
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