The Kansas City Chiefs had a quiet start to free agency until they made a splash on offense on Thursday night, signing former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a one-year, $7 million deal worth up to $11 million. It was no secret that the Chiefs were interested in wide receivers entering free agency, but according to grading from Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs truly couldn’t have found a better fit.
Brad Spielberger of PFF has been grading major transactions throughout free agency, and he had nothing but positive things to say about Brown’s fit in Kansas City, the value the Chiefs got in the deal, and how both parties will benefit:
• 2023 PFF Grade: 67.1 (67th/128)
• 2023 PFF WAR: 0.17 (50th)
• Fit/need grade: A+
• Value grade: A+
• Contract: One year, $7 million, up to $11 million
• PFF projected contract: One year, $12 million fully guaranteed
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. This is clearly Brown betting on himself with a one-year flier where if he balls out with Patrick Mahomes, he can sign a contract for a whole lot more. It’s a great idea for all parties. The rich get richer in Kansas City.
Spielberger’s analysis gives not one, but two A-plus grades to the Chiefs in this deal. First, let’s take a closer look at the value.
PFF projected Brown’s free agent deal to be worth $12 million fully guaranteed, even on just a one-year deal. Spotrac projected $14.8 million for Brown, and I wrote on March 11 that I expected Brown to get a multi-year deal closer to an adjusted-for-inflation premium version of Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s 2022 contract with KC, which I still would have been willing to pay from KC’s side. As Spielberger noted, it seems like Brown is “betting on himself” to have a great season with Mahomes before hitting free agency again, which would likely make him one-and-done in KC unless the Chiefs are willing to pay to keep the band together in 2025. It makes sense that Brown may not have wanted a longer-term deal at a value he believed to be lower than he’s worth, but it still lands as a short-term win for KC.
Even comparing Brown’s deal with Mooney’s, the Chiefs got a bargain. Mooney’s contract with the Atlanta Falcons is a three-year, $39 million deal with $26 million guaranteed, making it essentially a two-year, $27 million deal (per Spotrac) if Atlanta wants to move on after two seasons. Mooney’s cap hit in 2024 is $7.45 million before jumping to $14.51 million in 2025.
Not only does Spielberger love the value for Kansas City, he also gives the fit/need an A-plus. The Chiefs certainly needed help at receiver, but the specific things Brown should be asked to do in KC seems like a perfect fit alongside Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. Zack Eisen wrote more about Brown’s fit here on Arrowhead Report:
Brown is versatile enough to play outside and in the slot. Head coach Andy Reid typically likes to move his receivers around, and Brown has a 70/30 outside-inside snap split for his career. This allows the Chiefs to mix and match personnel groups for the best play in any situation. Brown’s success in playing on the outside is an underrated element. He’s not a big receiver (5’9″, 180 pounds) and usually, those prototypes have to primarily play in the slot to protect them against press coverage. However, since Brown has proven he can play on the line of scrimmage, the Chiefs can put him wherever he fits in best.
Eisen had plenty more to say about why he loves Brown’s fit in KC (continue reading here), and Spielberger’s painting of this signing is equally clear: the Chiefs got great value with their newest wide receiver, and he’ll slide right into a Chiefs offense that badly needed him.
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