New Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown is feeling confident about his ability to keep Patrick Mahomes upright and comfortable in the pocket.
On Friday, the 24-year-old star tackle was traded from the Baltimore Ravens to the Chiefs, where he'll protect the blind side of the $500 million man:
“I look forward to keeping [Mahomes] clean,” Brown boasted at his introductory press conference. “Whether he has a broken leg, healthy leg, healthy ankle — whatever the deal is, I look forward to keeping him clean. He shouldn’t have to run around because of me, period.”
Following a depleted and disastrous performance in Super Bowl LIV, the organization has overhauled the offensive line since Week 1 of 2020. Mahomes had to run almost 500 yards before passing in the Super Bowl loss as a consequence of protection failures.
The Chiefs have signed Joe Thuney, Kyle Long, and Austin Blythe, while Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang are expected to be back after opting out of last season.
Mahomes required surgery earlier this offseason to repair ligament damage in his big toe. The QB is already out of a walking boot and aiming to return by the end of the offseason:
“I think I’m progressing well. I think I’m ahead of schedule, myself. Obviously, they’re trying to be cautious and not push me out there too soon. But I’m doing what I can,” Mahomes said. “I’m trying to get back on the field and get that stuff working. So I’m sure they’ll keep me along that same pathway so that I can hopefully do some stuff by the end of the offseason.”
Brown, a two-time Pro Bowler, voiced his desire to play left tackle after spending much of his Baltimore tenure on the right side of the line. The Ravens pulled a massive haul for Brown, including a 2021 first-round pick and three other picks.
Follow Us
Subscribe