3 moves that got the Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl 57
By Kristen Wong
2. Franchise-tagging Orlando Brown
Left tackle Orlando Brown may not be a Chief for much longer given his testy contract saga with Kansas City that started last offseason. However, retaining Brown for the 2022 season was an absolutely pivotal move that ended up paying dividends for the Chiefs’ offense.
One could point to any number of roster additions on the offense that, at least in a minor way, helped the Chiefs maintain their dominance. Mid-level signings like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney played their part throughout the season, as did former Bucs wideout Justin Watson who has carved out a small but influential role in the receiving room.
Every NFL team’s offense starts with the offensive line, though. Last offseason’s contract stalemate between Orlando Brown and the Chiefs reared its ugly head, but at least the Chiefs held onto him via a franchise tag. If not, with the limited options in free agency, who knows who would have become Mahomes’ blindside blocker?
Brown indeed plays one of the most important positions in football and has proven himself to be a reliable left tackle in two seasons in Kansas City. The former Ravens right tackle successfully switched positions, earning his first Pro Bowl bid as the Chiefs’ left tackle in 2021, and entered 2022 looking for the security of a lucrative, long-term deal.
Brown is often the first to be criticized when the Chiefs’ offense sputters, and it’s easier to take a player at his position for granted. Over the past six weeks, though, Brown graded out as the top pass-blocker in the league via Pro Football Focus.
As much as fan perception suggests otherwise, Brown has served as a crucial mainstay in the front five this past season. After 2022, Brown should be due for a monumental payday.