“It’s a little weird because I represented myself in this deal,” Brown said in a press conference Thursday. “I’m very thankful to be able to play for this city and play for this organization, suit up with my teammates, for my teammates. There is no place I’d rather be. To have the opportunity to be able to be here for another two seasons outside of this year, it’s very special and means a lot to me and my family.”
Brown, who turns 30 this year, came to the Bengals as a free agent in March 2023, signing a four-year, $64 million contract that featured $43.5 million in guaranteed money, as negotiated by Michael Portner of Portner Sports & Entertainment. That deal was set to expire after this season.
In three years with Cincinnati, Brown has played and started 45 games, only missing six games in 2024 because of a broken fibula, which he returned from early as the Bengals were trying to sneak into the playoffs. He felt comfortable enough about his play and his relationship with the front office to try to do the extension himself.
“I feel like I was pretty good overall,” Brown said of his self-representation. “It was went very smooth. In my opinion, I feel like, you know, just the way that our front office handle things and ownership made it a lot easier on me representing myself. So, yeah, I feel really good about the whole process.”
Although Brown’s production seems to have taken a dip the last two years, he has played a key role on Cincinnati’s offensive line while protecting one of the league’s top quarterbacks in a drop-back heavy offense. He allowed 46 pressures and a career-high nine sacks last season but has been instrumental in the development of right tackle Amarius Mims.
Brown began his NFL career as a third-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 and played three seasons there before joining the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was a Pro Bowler four straight years before joining the Bengals, but said he feels like he’s grown the most in Cincinnati.
“I feel as though this is the probably the most uncomfortable and comfortable situation for me, in a way,” Brown said. “What I’m asked to do game to game is, is unique in terms of the drop-back press and one-on-one pass protection. It is the most vulnerable state for any offensive lineman in football, let alone a left tackle. And you add in blocking for a half a billion dollar quarterback and playing for this organization with great players like Andrew Whitworth and Anthony Munoz and Willie Anderson, it comes with a lot of pressure. But for me, I love, I love being a Bengal. I love playing, playing here in this city. I feel like my best football is ahead of me, which is one of the reasons we were able to get two years done. I love it.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Brown earned an offensive grade of 60.6 last season, down from a 66.1 his first season in Cincinnati in 2023.
However, Brown said the biggest thing for him last season was getting back to full-season health and availability after missing time in 2024.
“That was really important to me,” Brown said. “Anytime that I can be available, that’s something I pride myself on. Anytime that I’m able to go out there and shoot up on a Sunday, I want to go play.”
Now Brown also looks forward to renewing his battles with Trey Hendrickson twice a year now that the former Bengals edge rusher is signing with the AFC North-rival Ravens.
Brown said he was happy for Hendrickson getting his deal done, but he looks forward to going against him.
The two competed against each other in 2022 when Brown was with the Chiefs, and they notably got into a scuffle the first time they matched up in training camp as teammates opposing one another in 2023.
“I will tell you I’m excited to kick some ass, so I don’t really care who I’m lining up against, I don’t know who the edge goes to, but I’m excited for the matchup,” Brown said.
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