The arguably top player available during this year’s NFL free agency is Orlando Brown Jr. That’s because he’s a legitimate franchise tackle who is only 26 years old.
But as money flies around in Chicago and Denver, and intriguing trades are made by Dallas and by New York; Brown Jr. remains unsigned almost two days into free agency.
What gives?
Why hasn’t a player as good as Brown Jr. been inked to a deal yet? It, quite frankly, shouldn’t be taking this long to sign a player as excellent as him. Ah, but there is an explanation, albeit a peculiar one.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brown Jr. is still on the open market because of a hold-up with his position designation. Brown Jr. believes he’s a left tackle. The position typically receives the highest compensation amongst offensive linemen. Part of the reason Brown Jr. was once traded to the Kansas City Chiefs was because of his left-tackle conviction.
But the majority of the NFL seems to believe Brown Jr. is actually a right tackle. They still get a lot of money, but less than their left-sided peers.
Adam Schefter on ESPN’s NFL Live addressing the Orlando Brown JR situation. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/bt7zUbKiE8
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) March 14, 2023
It’s unclear whether Schefter’s report about Brown Jr.’s situation is accurate.
If that were the case, it’d be pretty silly for squads not to bring in an elite (and young!) talent like him simply because he wants left tackle money. In 2023, the distinction between both sides of an offensive front is largely irrelevant. Or at least it should be.
For what it’s worth, here are the top-five contracts, by fully guaranteed money, for both left and right tackles. (Data is courtesy of Over The Cap.)
- Ronnie Stanley — $64.1 million
- Trent Williams — $40 million
- Laremy Tunsil — $40 million
- Cam Robinson — $33 million
- Andrew Thomas — $32.3 million
- Ryan Ramczyk — $43.01 million
- Taylor Moton — $43 million
- Jawaan Taylor — $40 million
- Mike McGlinchey — $35 million
- Braden Smith — $32 million
Woof, OK. If this left-right separation is indeed the hold-up in Brown Jr. finding a new home, then it appears he has a point in staying patient. That contract gap is stark.
Time will only tell whether he or a team budges on their bargaining position first.
