Does Orland Brown Jr. fit Chicago Bears free agency plan?

The Chicago Bears are going to be in the market for some offensive line help this off-season. Considering Ryan Poles is coming from the Kansas City Chiefs, any Chiefs player who hits the market will be tied to the team. That includes Orlando Brown Jr.

Should Chicago Bears sign Orland Brown Jr. ?

At first glance, the decision makes sense. Poles was in the room when the Chiefs traded a first-round pick for him. It is obvious he likes him or was swayed on him by others. They need a tackle, and by most accounts, he is one of the youngest, most talented, and most trusted players on the market.

If the Chicago Bears want to win a bidding war for Orlando Brown, they can. However, it may not be the best fit. The first reason is that Brown plays left tackle, while the Bears' bigger need is the right side. Sure, Brown is an upgrade over Braxton Jones, but Jones showed enough as a rookie that it is not fair to move him. Beyond that, you spend all of that, now Jones is not starting, and you still need to pay for a right tackle. Or, you are hoping for Jones to play right tackle, which is a huge risk.

Perhaps Orland Brown would play right tackle. That is arguably the best case for him to sign here. He was drafted to play right tackle but wanted to switch to the left side so that he would get the money of a blindside blocker. If the Chicago Bears pay him like a left tackle and then ask him to play the right side, does he move back? Still, now you are paying more and asking more, and there becomes more questions.

Brown is such a powerful, heavy-handed player, but he is also slower on his feet. Some of the best plays from Braxton Jones last season came as a puller, and out in space. In the zone blocking looks, the Bears need a more athletic left tackle.

Finally, when you view the right tackle market, there are better scheme fits. Jawaan Taylor, Mike McGlinchey, and Kaleb McGary do not have the reputation, and may not make the money as Orland Brown. However, that may help the Bears find value, and they are all better fits for this current roster.

Orland Brown Jr. makes more sense in Madden than in real life. The complications of moving one player to a new side, the compensation, and the scheme fit make him less likely to sign.

If anything, the Chicago Bears should bid a little to drive up the price, then while teams debate how much to pay Brown, they sign one of the other three tackles in the less crowded market.