How the Chiefs should address offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie this season

Coming off of an exhilarating 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LVII, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs enter the offseason as league champions.

However normal supervisor Brett Veach will face a quantity robust personnel selections. Amongst them is what to do concerning the staff’s offensive tackles Andrew Wylie and Orlando Brown Jr. — each of whom will develop into free brokers when the brand new league 12 months begins on March 15.

Let’s look at the staff’s choices at this important place.

Proper deal with Andrew Wylie

Within the Tremendous Bowl, Wylie performed the sport of his life, capping a profession 12 months wherein he began each sport — and made large strides. He did so underneath a one-year Veteran Wage Profit (VSB) contract that paid him $2.5 million, however value the Chiefs lower than $1.2 million in opposition to the wage cap. This made him one of many league’s finest values.

Earlier than the season, bringing the versatile offensive lineman again on an affordable deal would have been a no brainer. That, nevertheless, might not be potential. In line with Spotrac, the five-year veteran — now 28 years outdated — ought to be price aroound $4.7 million per 12 months.

Whereas this is able to be an unbelievable payday for the previous undrafted free agent, it probably wouldn’t be within the staff’s finest curiosity. Wylie is well-liked within the locker room and has earned the belief of the teaching workers — but when we’re being sincere, the staff doesn’t want him.

Given his ascending play, expertise in massive video games and veteran management, it’s probably that one other staff might pay him greater than Kansas Metropolis can. He’ll in all probability play for one more staff in 2023.

Left deal with Orlando Brown Jr.

In the meantime, Brown as soon as once more enters the offseason within the highlight. A 12 months in the past, it was reported that he wished to be soccer’s highest-paid left deal with, which might have meant a contract north of $23 million per 12 months. The Chiefs countered with a stable, long-term deal that Brown declined. In the end, he performed on a franchise-tag contract price $16.7 million.

In 2022, Brown typically performed like one of many league’s finest tackles. However at different instances, he value his staff after being crushed. Whereas Brown’s unhealthy play has largely been outweighed by his good play, there’s been sufficient of the unhealthy that any staff is likely to be reluctant to pay him like he’s a high NFL tackles.

Kansas Metropolis will in all probability attempt to make a long-term deal that pays Brown one thing near what he desires, however give the staff a decrease 2023 cap hit. It’s probably, nevertheless, that this negotiation may also fail. We should always count on that the Chiefs will as soon as once more place a non-exclusive franchise tag on Brown, which pays him $20 million (120% of final season’s wage, per CBA guidelines) this season. He’ll once more be free to barter with different groups — however that’s unlikely to occur.

This gained’t be a straightforward choice for Kansas Metropolis. Brown has confirmed to be a superb participant — he’s been a Professional Bowl choice in 4 straight seasons — and is a high-character teammate who’s dependable in massive video games.

Lucas Niang

The Chiefs may have different choices who’re already within the locker room — together with second-year participant Darian Kinnard and third-year man Prince Tega Wanogho. However probably the most intriguing could also be 2020’s third-round choose Lucas Niang.

The staff trusted him as a rookie in 2021 (he opted out of the COVID-19 season in 2020), beginning him in 9 video games. In a 2022 season plagued with accidents, Niang appeared in seven video games — all of them as a reserve.

Free company

Contemplating that Brown is one among free company’s headliners, it’s unlikely Kansas Metropolis will take into account many veteran gamers — however one participant to observe is the Atlanta Falcons’ Kaleb McGary.

A former first-round choose, McGary has been a late bloomer in Atlanta. Whereas his move safety wants work, he’s a stable run blocker with the athletic capacity and physicality required to play within the Chiefs’ offense.

Whereas his contract is not going to be cheap, it could be cheaper than a long-term deal for Brown. Kansas Metropolis would possibly take into account enhancing one deal with place — enhancing the road as a complete — whereas drafting a participant who might finally change Brown.

The draft

Nearly it doesn’t matter what the Chiefs do about their tackles, we should always count on them to take one inside the draft’s first 100 picks, wherein the staff now holds picks 31, 63 and 95. They’ve few cost-effective long-term choices, so they should construct depth across the place. Gamers they may take into account embrace Jaelyn Duncan, Darnell Wright and Cody Mauch.

Duncan has proven large footwork and a robust core in move safety. He does properly in opposition to pace rushers — and if he oversets, he can rapidly redirect inside. He has, nevertheless, struggled in opposition to energy gamers and should enhance his anchor power.

Wright is probably the most well-rounded of those three. He combines energy with the technical refinement that’s wanted in move safety. Whereas he might have so as to add purposeful power to his sport, he has loads of tape displaying high-level play in opposition to top-notch competitors.

Mauch is likely one of the class’s most intriguing prospects. Whereas he might want to proceed to refine his fundamentals and add measurement, he possesses uncommon athletic capacity — together with a imply streak that groups will need.

The underside line

Veach once more faces a troublesome job. Discovering starting-caliber NFL tackles is tough — particularly once they should defend two-time MVP Mahomes.

Changing Wylie with a rookie (or an identical veteran) looks like a possible choice. However shifting on from Brown with no stable substitute plan seems like a severe gamble the staff shouldn’t take. So that can probably result in one other franchise tag on the left deal with — which at the least ensures stability at a important place because the staff builds depth.

Nonetheless, if Kansas Metropolis has confirmed one factor over the past 12 months, it’s that the staff doesn’t want anybody. Veach has confirmed he’s not afraid to be daring; he is not going to overpay for any place. However it could be good to know that in years to come back, the franchise will probably be well-protected.

For Veach, it will likely be one other attention-grabbing offseason.