On March 16, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter and voiced his delight over the team’s signing of wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
“He just brings a ton of dynamic playmaking ability, and I think just being able to add a guy like that who’s ready to come in and work and be hungry,” Mahomes said of Brown, as quoted by Bleacher Report. “I’ve already spoken to him. There will be a lot of throwing sessions in our future, and we’re hoping to keep this thing going. We’re going to win the soccer title here with the women’s soccer team [the NWSL’s Kansas City Current], and then we’ll aim to make it back to the Super Bowl.”
Chiefs Graded Highly for Marquise Brown Signing
PFF’s Brad Spielberger gave the Chiefs an A+ for signing Brown because of his contract and fit in Kansas City’s scheme.
“Darnell Mooney’s contract figured to be a great benchmark for Brown, with both players serving as great intermediate separators with solid deep speed — but also having missed time with minor injuries over the past two seasons,” Spielberger noted in his report. “This is definitely Brown betting on himself with a one-year contract that, if he succeeds with Patrick Mahomes, will allow him to secure a contract worth much more. It’s an excellent idea for all involved. “The rich get richer in Kansas City.”
The release of Marquez Valdes-Scantling on February 28 created a need for speed in Kansas City’s offense. Brown fills that vacuum, but he adds much more to the Chiefs’ offense than speed alone.
Brown, who can play out wide and in the slot, can win at all three levels of the field, but his best results come on intermediate and deep routes.
According to Matt Harmon of Reception Perception, Brown’s most successful routes during the 2023 season were out routes (88.9%), post routes (81.5%), dig routes (79.5%), and curl routes (78%).
As a squad that struggled to make consistent downfield plays in 2023, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and head coach Andy Reid should be able to devise strategies to get Brown open downfield in 2024.
Tyreek Hill Only WR Faster Than Marquise Brown Since 2020
According to Next Gen Stats, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is the only player to have consistently run faster routes than Brown since 2020.
According to NGS, Hill has averaged 20+ miles per hour on 73 routes during that time period, ranking first in the NFL. Brown is ranked second on the list, with 33 routes that exceed 20 miles per hour.
That demonstrates how much speed Brown — who clocked a 4.27 40-yard dash at his Oklahoma Pro Day — contributes to Kansas City’s attack.
The Chiefs’ wide receiver room presently comprises of Brown, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, Montrell Washington, Cornell Powell, Justyn Ross, Shi Smith, Anthony Miller, and Jacob Copeland.
Though Brown solves an offensive need for the Chiefs, expect the team to continue to add receivers in April through free agency and/or the draft.
