Orlando Brown Jr. to Cincinnati: 'I'd bet the house on me and my work ethic'
Many Cincinnati Bengals fans will wake up Thursday to exciting news: The team reportedly has filled one of its greatest needs, as The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway wrote, in landing four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
What's expected to be a four-year deal worth $64 million comes after Brown started the past two seasons for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs but couldn't agree with the team on whether he'd play left or right tackle.
As a left tackle for the Bengals, Conway reported that Jonah Williams is likely to move to the right side, and Cincinnati likely could move on from La'el Collins and use the opt out in his contract.
Brown was not called for holding the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' late scramble in the AFC championship.
Brown played his first three NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Social media reactions to the addition of Brown, including from former Bengals great Andrew Whitworth and Brown himself:
Talk yo talk! I feel you my guy!
So happy for you! 💪🏼!!!!!! @ZEUS__57 https://t.co/zIUpXQM4x1— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) March 16, 2023
It’s the Year 4 JB.
Everything people think they know about the #Bengals no longer applies https://t.co/pTRTNmIFpR— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) March 16, 2023
The Orlando Brown signing reminds me of Vonn Bell and Mike Hilton.
Zac Taylor played Bell (in LA) and Hilton a ton and hated scheming against those guys. So the Bengals signed them.
There's so much familiarity with Brown. They know exactly the type of player he is.— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) March 16, 2023
The Bengals are signing OT Orlando Brown Jr. to a four-year, $64.092M deal per @TomPelissero.
The deal includes a $31M signing bonus, the most ever for an offensive lineman. pic.twitter.com/g24B16gNFu— PFF (@PFF) March 16, 2023
And for the #Bengals, they get a great deal. Orlando Brown is now the 17th highest paid tackle in the NFL. https://t.co/NzqsUVz2r8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2023
The #Bengals were quiet so far in free agency for a reason.
Cincinnati made a massive splash by signing four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown.
Another huge investment by the front office to protect Joe Burrow. https://t.co/C5HtBoDI4Y— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) March 16, 2023
Orlando Brown allowed just 1 pressure on 31 pass blocking snaps in Super Bowl LVII.
Brown is the only tackle to make the Pro Bowl in each of the past 4 seasons. #Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/1P418QFyR2— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) February 20, 2023
Among teams that showed interest in Orlando Brown, per agent Michael Portner: The #Steelers and #Jets. Bengals put deal over the top with strong guarantees over long term. @TomPelissero 1st on the deal.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 16, 2023
To KC: I’m forever thankful!! 🫡
— Orlando Brown Jr. (@ZEUS__57) March 16, 2023
Just spoke to new #Bengals LT Orlando Brown Jr.: "I'm super thankful for the opportunity to carry on my father's legacy and be a left tackle. It was important to be able to play that position and play for a winning team and a winning quarterback. Who Dey!"
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2023
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Orlando Brown Jr. to Cincinnati: Can't wait to get to work
