Chiefs nearing dangerous waters with Orlando Brown contract talks

The Kansas City Chiefs are running out of time to get a long-term contract done for offensive lineman Orlando Brown before training camp.

It’s starting to look like the Chiefs may not have offensive tackle Orlando Brown in training camp.

Kansas City is still negotiating to pen a new long-term deal with Brown after putting the franchise tag on him. They have until Friday July 15 to get that contract done before the offensive lineman misses part or all of training camp.

According to Mike Garafolo, the two sides are “not close.”

Chiefs running out of time in Orlando Brown contract talks

“The #Chiefs and LT Orlando Brown are not close on a long-term deal with under three days left to do one,” Garafolo tweeted. “If no deal is reached before Friday, I wouldn’t expect Brown for the start of training camp and Week 1 isn’t a certainty, either.”

Under the franchise tag, Brown would make $16.6 million. Since he hasn’t signed the tag, according to CBS Sports, he can’t be fined for missing training camp.

The difference between the player and the team seems to stem from comparative compensation figures. Brown is a right tackle. Ryan Ramczyk of the Saints leads all RTs with $19 million per year. Meanwhile, the highest-paid left tackle, Trent Williams of the 49ers, makes $23 million per year.

Left tackles are traditionally worth more than other offensive linemen because they protect a quarterback’s blindside. However, KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a lefty. So Brown is the one protecting the blindside of one of the most valuable quarterbacks in the league. Brown wants to get paid as a blindside protector, not as a right tackle.

Kansas City traded multiple draft picks to the Ravens for Brown last year in a bid to solidify the right tackle spot.