Blindside Brown: Chiefs Acquire New Left Tackle

The Kansas City Chiefs now have a brand new blocker to play left tackle and protect Patrick Mahomes. It did not come via the 2021 NFL Draft, however. Instead, just six days before the team was set to pick 31st overall, they make a major splash by acquiring Orlando Brown Jr. in a trade.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Baltimore Ravens will be receiving four picks back in return for Brown Jr. This includes three picks in 2021 (1st Round- 31st overall, 3rd Round- 94th overall and 4th Round- 136th overall), as well as a 2022 5th Round pick. Kansas City nets two picks to go along with the blocker. (2021 2nd Round pick- 58th overall and a 2022 6th Round pick).

Now, let’s detail this trade with Brown Jr.’s fit in Kansas City, his career to this point and how this will affect next week’s draft.

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Career Resume

A third round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft by Baltimore, Brown Jr. is still just 24 years old. He started in 10 games as a rookie. The following two years were displayed with glowing dominance by the Oklahoma product. He started in every game across 2019 and 2020. Each season, Brown Jr. was named a Pro Bowler. The roles he filled had become the big story, though.

He was punishing opponents at right tackle in 2019 and throughout the early stages of 2020. But, left tackle Ronnie Stanley soon went down with a season ending injury. This allowed Brown Jr. an opportunity to fill in on the blindside. And, he flashed with stellar results. This led to the blocker wanting a larger chance to play the left tackle position, and a trade request soon followed. Brown Jr. believes that is his natural spot and it had grown to become a more personal thing for him. In just three seasons and 48 games played, he has just 11 career penalties, three sacks allowed and has also appeared in four playoff contests.

His father, the late, great Orlando “Zeus” Brown, played in the NFL for a total of 11 combined seasons with the Ravens and the Cleveland Browns.

Chiefs Fit

For a man of his size, Orlando Brown Jr. combines rare athleticism, quickness and length at offensive tackle. He can be a nasty mauler in space. He can hold his own against faster pass rushers in quick or vertical pass sets. And honestly, that will likely be showcased more in Kansas City. Due to the high volume passing attack, Brown Jr. can rely on his quick sets and shuffles more often. He does not have to worry about generating more lateral range and drawn out mobility like he was asked to do with the Ravens.

Meanwhile, Brown Jr. is a menace as a run blocker. Clyde Edwards-Helaire may only have to go one direction when running the football this upcoming season. With the pairing of Brown Jr. and Joe Thuney on the left side, the Chiefs have two of the better people movers on that side. This new acquisition has generally been comfortable with pulling or climbing to the second level.

New Draft Plans?

What does the Orlando Brown Jr. trade mean for the 2021 NFL Draft next week? As for Kansas City, their only major primary need is now filled. They literally go from having no option at left tackle, to implementing the best option they could have went with at this point in time. Kansas City now holds six total picks in the draft. They are as follows:

2nd Round: 58th overall, 63rd overall

4th Round: 144th overall

5th Round: 175th overall, 181st overall

6th Round: 207th overall

In Friday’s press conference, general manager Brett Veach discussed how the “hot zone” of talent could fall in that late second round range. Assuming the Chiefs stick to those spots at 58 and 63 respectively, they could be making two best player available picks in the draft. While their primary need is now gone, a few secondary holes still remain. This includes wide receiver, EDGE defender and cornerback. But yet, the team can certainly go strictly for talent now, rather than consistently reaching to fill needs.

Final Thoughts

How can the Ravens trade with the Chiefs?

I completely understand that Baltimore will be getting Stanley back at left tackle in 2021. Nonetheless, the fact that they actually traded with the Kansas City Chiefs is astonishing. Andy Reid‘s squad has been a thorn in their side for the last few seasons, as the Ravens are 0-3 in the last few matchups since 2018. Additionally, Kansas City is one of the top players that are currently keeping Baltimore from reaching or winning a Super Bowl in the AFC. To help out their kryptonite and fix their biggest issue left me flabbergasted. Add in the 2nd Round pick this year coming back to the Chiefs, and I am even more surprised how well this appears for KC.

What is the contract situation for Brown Jr.?

Orlando Brown Jr. will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2021. Obviously, one would imagine the Chiefs did not just make this trade, while giving up a ton of picks, in order for this to be a simple one and done experiment. When could a contract extension be coming? That is a big question mark, as of now. Could it be before the season starts? Sure. Or, will we see it drag on into 2022? The team can always franchise tag Brown Jr. However, you do not want to dance around paying him for too long. Hypothetically, the Chiefs want him as their left tackle for the long haul.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles throughout the next week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.