ESPN Names Orlando Brown Jr. Deal Second-Best NFL FA Signing Of 2023

Cincinnati finalized the big move last week.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Publish date:
Mar 20, 2023 7:35 AM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — Full numbers are in on Orlando Brown Jr.'s new deal with the Bengals and ESPN's Seth Walder thinks it's one of the best free agency moves this cycle.

Brown checked in as the second-best deal of the past week, just behind Jakobi Meyers' deal with the Raiders.

"When you look at the contract numbers," Walder wrote. "Keep in mind that this same offseason Jawaan Taylor received $80 million over four years and Mike McGlinchey received $87.5 million over five years. Brown is the best tackle of the three and the only one who has played left tackle in the NFL. And on a per-year basis, he is being paid the least. An average of $16 million per year for a good 26-year-old left tackle is plenty palatable."

Brown should be a big upgrade in the most important part of the Bengals' protection plan: passing.

"Brown's 92% pass block win rate at tackle ranked 18th out of 64 tackles -- McGlinchey was 32nd and Taylor was 37th -- but he also did it with double-team help just 27% of the time, the fourth-lowest rate," Walter wrote. "His run block win rate was average (significantly worse than McGlinchey, but significantly better than Taylor).

"Crucially, the Bengals' need here was massive. The idea that their offensive line cost them at the end of last season because of injuries isn't quite right; the line wasn't all that good to begin with, particularly at tackle. Jonah Williams and La'el Collins had pass block win rates of 84% (55th) and 81% (57th) last season, respectively. Bringing in Brown is a huge step forward in fixing the biggest problem for a Super Bowl contender."

Brown is the best left tackle to wear stripes since Andrew Whitworth and should line up nicely with Joe Burrow's blossoming prime years as an NFL quarterback.

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