Chiefs could use franchise tag on Pro Bowl OT Orlando Brown next year?

The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly sent four draft selections to the Baltimore Ravens for Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown and some draft picks on Friday to provide quarterback and Super Bowl LIV  MVP Patrick Mahomes additional and better protection. 

Heading into the weekend, however, Brown is on the last year of his current contract and is, essentially, a rental. 

While ESPN's Adam Schefter explained that the Chiefs will "set out to negotiate a contract extension" with Brown, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo tweeted that Kansas City is prepared to let its new left tackle play out the final year of his deal. Garafolo added that Kansas City could look to retain Brown's rights for at least one more season via the franchise tag. 

The salary cap dropped nearly $16 million from the previous season due to financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the cap is widely expected to skyrocket in 2022 as long as teams can fill stadiums to their capacities starting in September. This, theoretically, would allow the Chiefs to afford using the tag on Brown next spring without encountering overwhelming cap challenges. 

In short: Kansas City giving up a lot on Friday to get Brown isn't forcing the club to show him the money ahead of the NFL Draft that kicks off on Thursday night.