By The Associated Press
The Kansas City Chiefs have lost several players to free agency this week.
A day after wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said he was signing a free-agent deal with the New England Patriots, the Super Bowl champion Chiefs also learned that left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. And safety Juan Thornhill had found new NFL homes.
Brown, a four-time Pro Bowl tackle, is leaving the Chiefs for a $64.09 million, four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Brown’s agent, Michael Portner, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Wednesday night. He said it includes a $31 million signing bonus.
Cleveland reached an agreement with Thornhill on a three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
Thornhill is getting a $21 million deal — $14 million guaranteed — from the Browns, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the 27-year-old has not yet signed.
Brown, a third-round pick by Baltimore in 2018, spent three seasons with the Ravens and the last two with the Chiefs.
He goes from protecting NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes to blocking for Joe Burrow. Brown began his career at right tackle and shifted to the left side in 2020. He’ll protect Burrow’s blindside in Cincinnati.
The Bengals lost to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game in January.
Thornhill, who had a career-high 71 tackles last season, had five tackles when the Chiefs beat Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.
The Browns, who had countless problems with their defense last season, were in the market for a starting safety after releasing John Johnson III after two seasons. Johnson’s expected release with a June 1 designation means the Browns will save $9.75 million on their cap next year.
Thornhill is expected to start alongside safety Grant Delpit.
The Chiefs drafted Thornhill in the second round in 2019 out of Virginia. He started 52 games, finishing with eight interceptions and 234 tackles.