Top 5 free agent targets for the Chicago Bears in 2023
By Ryan Olson
Chicago Bears Free Agent Target N o. 5: Orlando Brown Jr., OT – Kansas City
Orlando Brown, Jr. was a free agent target of mine last year before the Chiefs used their franchise tag on the tackle that is only 26 years old. Despite them using the tag on him last year, I would not expect them to exercise it again on him as he has not been nearly as good as he once was with the Ravens during his stay in Kansas City.
Brown’s struggles in Kansas City could be related to him moving to left tackle and his scheme in Kansas City being very different from the one in Baltimore. Baltimore is a very run-heavy team and the Chiefs are far from that. The Chiefs drop back probably more than any other team in the league. A move back to his natural position and a better scheme fit like Chicago could be the thing that brings him back to elite form in Baltimore.
Brown is projected to sign a five-year, $115 million dollar contract which is not a price I am overly in love with if the Bears were to sign him, especially if he is not willing to move back to his natural position at right tackle. Nonetheless, even though I don’t love that price, I think Brown could still be a good signing for the Chicago Bears with tons of upside, especially if he could move back to right tackle.
I think Brown moving back to right tackle is pretty plausible because the assumption is that, him moving to left tackle and demanding a trade was because left tackles generally get paid more than right tackles. But if Brown were to get a payday, he could certainly be willing to move back to right tackle for the Bears.