Orlando Brown Jr.’s reason for joining Bengals should motivate Patrick Mahomes

Former Chiefs tackle Orlando Brown signed with the Bengals for a reason that will cause Kansas City fans to riot.

News of Orlando Brown’s signing with the Cincinnati Bengals sent shockwaves across the league and also slapped the Kansas City Chiefs in the face.

Last year, the Chiefs offered Brown a six-year, $139 million deal and a $30.25 million signing bonus. Brown declined, and the Chiefs ended up placing the franchise tag on him.

Last week, the Bengals and Brown agreed to a four-year, $64 million deal with a $31 million signing bonus; his $16 million average a year ranked far below what he would have earned in Kansas City ($23 million).

The Bengals got a premier left tackle for an absolute steal, and taking him from an AFC rival is just another win on top of the win. After blocking for two MVP quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, Brown now gets to play in front of Joe Burrow.

And in his mind, that means a good chance at winning more Super Bowls.

Bengals scouting director Steven Radicevic told The Athletic that Brown “wanted to play with Joe,” and Brown himself showered Burrow with compliments.

Orlando Brown’s comments on Joe Burrow will incense Chiefs fans

“I’m kind of spoiled, you could say, in the football world with the guys that I’ve played with, the teams I’ve been on as well. Being able to play with a guy like 9, that’s a tough opportunity to pass up,’ Brown said.

The “Burrow effect” is very real — it’s what drew Cincy’s top offensive linemen Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and others to the Bengals last year.

On paper, Cincy have matched the Chiefs stride for stride in the last two years. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl in 2021; the Chiefs won it this past season.

Cincinnati actually beat Kansas City for the third straight time in the 2022 regular season before falling to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, 23-20. Burrow wasn’t at his best that game, recording two interceptions and taking on five sacks, yet he still nearly overthrew Mahomes for the fourth consecutive time.

The Burrow-Mahomes rivalry was already heating up in recent seasons, and after Brown’s glowing praise of Burrow, the Chiefs will have one more reason to want to beat the Bengals in 2023.

The Burrowhead drama. Eli Apple clowning on Twitter. Even dragging the cities’ mayors into the AFC feud.

There are some things football fans can always count on, and one of them is a tense and exciting matchup between the Chiefs and Bengals. Let the trash talk begin.