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Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals, a deal he negotiated himself without the help of an agent.
Brown confirmed the extension Thursday, ensuring he will remain with Cincinnati through the 2028 season. Financial details of the agreement were not immediately disclosed.
The veteran tackle initially joined the Bengals in 2023 on a four-year contract worth more than $64 million. Rather than waiting until his deal approached expiration, Brown approached the organization earlier this year to explore an extension.
Relationship With Front Office Helped Facilitate Deal
Brown said discussions about a new contract began in February, and negotiations primarily involved Bengals assistant general manager Steve Radicevic.
The 29-year-old explained that his strong relationship with team leadership encouraged him to handle the negotiations personally. He even described the process as straightforward, noting he could simply approach team president Mike Brown to begin discussions.
Brown said representing himself made sense given the trust between him and the organization, though he acknowledged he might not take the same approach with other teams.
Key Protector for Joe Burrow
Since arriving in Cincinnati, Brown has been a central figure on the offensive line protecting franchise quarterback Joe Burrow.
Across three seasons with the Bengals, he has started 45 games at left tackle. Brown battled through a broken leg late in the 2024 season but returned to play a full campaign in 2025.
His performance last season was uneven according to ESPN’s pass block win rate metric, though he previously ranked first in the league in that category during the first half of the 2024 season.
Bengals Continue Busy Offseason
Brown’s extension is part of an active offseason for Cincinnati as the team reshapes its roster. The Bengals recently signed edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook while also losing star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson in free agency to the Baltimore Ravens.
With Brown now locked in long term, Cincinnati maintains continuity along its offensive line as it attempts to return to playoff contention after missing the postseason in each of the past three seasons.
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