Bengals again go free agent route to protect QB Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals made a big splash in free agency on Wednesday by signing four-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown.
“No stripes earned in this business from pretending,” Brown tweeted in response. “I’d bet the house on me and my work ethic. Can’t wait to get to work!”
Brown spent the last two seasons starting for the Kansas City Chiefs and played last season under the franchise tag. His contract with the Bengals will run for four years and be worth $64 million, according to the NFL Network.
The reason Brown was available was because of a disagreement with the Chiefs over whether he would play right or left tackle. Brown wanted to remain on the left side, where he was apt to get paid more, but Kansas City wanted to move him to the right. When the Chiefs opted not to place a second franchise tag on Brown, all signs pointed to a breakup.
Brown will play left tackle for the Bengals which means former firstround pick Jonah Williams is likely to move to the right side. Cincinnati also has La’el Collins on the roster, though Collins tore his ACL on Christmas Eve and will spend the entire offseason rehabbing his knee. The Bengals have an opt-out in his contract should they choose to move on, as is expected.
Over the last two offseasons, the Bengals’ front office has made a huge investment in improving franchise quarterback Joe Burrow’s protection. Burrow was sacked 41 times in the 2022 season, the sixth-most in the NFL.
Drafted by the Ravens out of Oklahoma in 2018, Brown played three seasons in Baltimore before signing with the Chiefs in 2021. Brown has protected the blindsides of quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.
Bengals will have to revamp secondary
While the Bengals added Brown, resigned linebacker Germaine Pratt, giving him a three-year deal worth $21 million and confirmed extending halfback Trayveon Williams for 2023, Cincinnati’s offseason has also been marked by some notable departures.
Safety Jessie Bates signed with the Atlanta Falcons for four years, $64 million. The Bengals lost safety Vonn Bell when he inked a three-year, $21 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. Carolina is also the destination of tight end Hayden Hurst, who received a threeyear contract. And running back Samaje Perine left Cincinnati to join the Denver Broncos after getting a twoyear deal worth $7.5 million.