Orlando Brown an intriguing option for Bears in free agency

The NFL deadline for teams to apply the franchise tag on their unrestricted free agents passed Tuesday with one particularly intriguing player potentially available for the Bears: left tackle Orlando Brown.

Brown, who turns 27 on May 2, has made the Pro Bowl the last four seasons — two with the Ravens, two with the Chiefs — and played a key role in a revitalized Chiefs offensive line that held the Eagles without a sack in Super Bowl LVII in February.

Brown, who played on the franchise tag for $16.7 million last season, was expected to get tagged again this season. But with the price tag at $19.9 million, the Chiefs declined. Barring an agreement in the interim, Brown will be available when the free-agency negotiating window opens Monday.

The Bears figure to be at or near the top of the list of suitors, considering their glaring need for an upgrade at offensive tackle.

General manager Ryan Poles, a former offensive lineman, was the Chiefs’ assistant director of player personnel when they traded for Brown in 2021.

Right tackle Kaleb McGary also could interest the Bears in free agency after the Falcons declined to apply the franchise tag on the 2019 first-round pick. McGary, 28, played his first two seasons with the Falcons under Bears offensive line coach Chris Morgan.

The Ravens, as expected, applied the franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson after failing to agree on a long-term deal. The Giants applied the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley after agreeing with quarterback Daniel Jones on a long-term contract. Other players getting the franchise tag were Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard and Jaguars tight end Evan Engram.

As expected, the Bears didn’t use the franchise tag on any players. Running back David Montgomery heads their list of unrestricted free agents and is the player they’d like to re-sign to a long-term deal.

Linebacker Nicholas Morrow is the only other full-time starter among the Bears’ 20 unrestricted free agents.