Following a season of inconsistency from Chiefs receivers, the organization is adding a notable name to Patrick Mahomes‘ arsenal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Chiefs are signing wideout Marquise Brown.
“Hollywood” is signing a one-year deal worth up to $11MM, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Albert Breer of TheMMQB clarifies that the former first-round pick will earn a $7MM base with another $4MM via incentives and/or bonuses.
While free agency’s other top receivers (Calvin Ridley, Gabe Davis) earned multi-year deals, Brown ultimately had to settle for a one-year prove-it deal before hitting the market again next offseason. That arrangement seemingly intrigued a number of teams, as Russini notes that Brown garnered interest “from all around the league.”
It was uncertain if the Chiefs would be willing to open up the checkbook for an offensive weapon this soon. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted the prevailing sentiment was that the organization needed to trade L’Jarius Sneed before making a big-name signing. Instead, the Chiefs locked up a talented wideout on a reasonable deal.
Brown’s career has been highlighted by his own inconsistency. He started his career tied to one of the NFL’s most run-heavy offenses, but he still managed to build on his numbers in each of his three seasons with the Ravens. This culminated in a 2021 campaign where he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage, although his six touchdowns marked his lowest total during his Baltimore tenure.
Despite the growing offensive role, Brown expressed discontent with his team’s offense and asked for a trade. The Ravens found a taker in Arizona, with the Cardinals sending a first-round pick for Brown and a third-round selection in 2022. The move reunited Brown with his college quarterback in Kyler Murray, but the receiver wasn’t able to elevate his play during his time in the desert.
Of course, that wasn’t entirely Brown’s fault. The Cardinals started seven different QBs over the past two seasons, which was thanks in part to Murray suffering an ACL tear during the 2022 finale. Brown struggled with his own injury woes, battling through foot and heel issues over the past two years. After finishing with 67 catches for 709 yards during his first season in Arizona, Brown was limited to only 51 catches for a career-low 574 yards in 2023.
Still, Brown provides the Chiefs with a high-upside target, and they’ve showed that they can win despite WR issues. Rashee Rice emerged as a rookie in 2023, and Travis Kelce will continue to command many of Mahomes’ targets. But other than that duo, the QB’s top options included the likes of Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, and Kadarius Toney.
Just Brown’s 1,000-yard pedigree gives him a higher upside than many of his teammates. Entering his age-27 season, Brown could help the offense rebound following a relatively underwhelming regular-season performance in 2023.
Oh boy. I don’t think Brown is a true number one or anything, but this could be very fun to watch.
I think Rice becomes the 1A.
Those two plus Kelce is a nice top trio. Excited to see Mahomes with a receiver who can best people downfield and is actually good again.
We don’t need him as a #1. Rice is our #1. Hollywood #2 and then we have Kelce. I still think we draft a WR in the 1st round. I want Ladd McConkey!
It’s not JJ. But it’s better than all of 2023.
Not bad KC not bad haha
He’s an improvement over Valdes-Scantling, but he shouldn’t be only addition to their WR corps. They need to sign another one and get rid of Toney.
Toney costs us the same next year whether we keep him or we get rid of him. So we might as well keep him and hope he has some good games for us.
Sunken cost fallacy, we pay him regardless but he is negative value at this point. Even if we pay him to be elsewhere the roster spot has value and he will not do anything for us next year. He never synced up with Mahomes and ultimately lost his trust so he isn’t going to be getting the ball moving forward.
He’s a cancer. No shock that once he was deactivated, they stopped losing games. Some people are just toxic.
That’s basically what he is, a replacement for MVS. This is a deep receiver draft, so they’ll draft a guy again at some point.
HOLLYWOOD!
BOOMER!
Are the Patriots even calling these guys?
Kraft is a tightwad
Apparently. They’re way under the cap.
It can be either really good or really bad. The bad would be him basically not seeing the touches he thinks he should be getting and basically being a Toney.
The poor man’s Tyreek Hill.
More like the destitute, impoverished man’s Ty Hill.
Isn’t that any Chief receiver post-Tyreek Hill?
LOL, pretty much. Mahomes will get him a fat contract though. First real QB he’s played with.
The reigning NFL MVP isn’t a real QB?
Not like Mahomes is. You really think if Lamar couldn’t run he would put up those passing stats? Get outta here. Both great, just different.
You really think if Patrick couldn’t run he would put up those passing stats? Get outta here. Both great, just different.
What? That’s stupid. Mahomes doesn’t run nor is he the treat to run like Lamar. You’re obviously just some delusional and aggrieved Raven fan.
Mahomes doesn’t run? Are you serious? Did you even watch the Super Bowl? He won the game with his legs, multiple 3rd down+ conversions on the game winning drive. He does it every game. Go to YouTube and watch the game winning drive if you don’t believe it. Also I’m not a Ravens fan.
He ran in the SB because the defense was playing loose. But he ran for less than 400 all season long. You’re either intentionally obtuse or perhaps have a mental delay if you want to equate his running to Lamar’s. Go to bed son, you’re obviously drunk.
And Lamar had over 800. Stupid. Enjoy being muted.
@Sid Bream Speed Demon lol. Can’t win an argument so you mute the conversation. Hilarious. Bet that works well with your S/O.
Point though – is it good that your QB is necessary within your ‘run game’?
I’d prefer my ‘most important’ player not need to run whereas Lamar is an important cog in that context of Harbaugh game. If I was a Ravens fan I’d cringe everytime he does run.
The point isn’t for designed runs, it’s being able to extend plays. Look at some of the best QBs in the game today, they can all extend plays with their feet, makes them extra tough to defend. The only team with “good” QBs that run more than an average number of designed runs is Lamar, Jalen, and Josh A.
Yes, especially with his build I agree that the hits could catch up to Lamar quickly.
Exactly. The concept of a “mobile” QB doesn’t exist. Only athletic enough to extend plays. Running QBs don’t last long and it doesn’t work. Look at Stafford, Goff, Lawrence. I’ll take Mahommes and his 400 over Lamar and his 800 any day.
@Sid Bream Speed Demon Did I say Mahomes was a more prolific runner? No. His threat to run makes it even harder for the defense to play him, meaning he has even better passing stats than if he was a statue like Brock Purdy. You really thing Mahomes would be Mahomes without his running ability? 400 yards for a QB is a lot, only 6 QBs had more.
No. He’s the best RB that can throw sometimes
Jackson is the only active quarterback who has 3 perfect QBR games.
No. Not every receiver has the speed of Hill or Brown.
His next contract will dwarf whatever he’s about to get. Great signing for both parties
Only if he stays healthy. That’s never a gimme in the NFL
After they sign Hunter Renfroe, they’ll be set
They don’t have any money left in the salary cap…….UNLESS…..they trade Sneed or give him some kind of multi-year contract (highly unlikely).
This is a typical Chiefs move at wideout. JuJu, MVS, now Hollywood
He hasn’t fully developed either, this is like replacing Kadarius Toney with Quentin Johnston. Now that I said that, Johnston will actually improve in 2024 & make me look dumb.
Probably the best landing spot for Brown and a pretty shrewd acquisition by the Chiefs. In KC this guy is going to have the opportunity to show his full potential and a lot of people may be surprised at how good he actually can be.
He played in a close variation of his college offense in Arizona with his college QB, and he was worse than what he was in Baltimore. Sometimes, you people need to stop hyping these players. He drops a lot of balls and is small, which is his real problem with the NFL versus what he did in college. Maybe just maybe his ceiling is exactly what he was in Baltimore.
You lost me at “… his college offense in Arizona…”
Man, that sucks.
How scary could they be if they traded for Tee Higgins?