KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will not be franchise tagged a second time, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Source: The #Chiefs are not tagging OT Orlando Brown.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2023
Brown, who played last season on a fully guaranteed $16.7-million salary on the franchise tag, according to Over the Cap, would've been in line for a near $20 million guaranteed salary if he was franchise tagged a second time.
The Chiefs used the franchise tag on Brown last March, but long-term contract negotiations stalled as he searched for a new agent and ultimately couldn’t agree on a multi-year deal.
NFL teams have until 3 p.m. Central time on Tuesday to franchise tag players and a new league year, including free agency, is set to begin at 3 p.m. Central time on March 15.
Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach told reporters last week at the NFL Combine that franchise-tagging Brown was a possibility, but a long-term extension was more beneficial for both sides.
The Chiefs were projected to be $3.5 million over the 2023 salary cap before releasing defensive end Frank Clark, which saves $21 milli0on against the cap.
Kansas City's top 51 player contracts must not exceed the $223,554,050 salary cap by the start of the new league year.
