The Baltimore Ravens’ road to the Super Bowl became slightly more tough. The Ravens’ major competitor in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs, acquired a significant free-agent acquisition in Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on X, “A new weapon for Patrick Mahomes: Former Ravens and Cardinals WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, per sources.”
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2023-24 and may have improved rather than stagnated.
Adam Schefter later clarified the contract details, stating that the Kansas City Chiefs signed Hollywood Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million. Brown’s addition bolsters a unit that has been perceived as one of the Chiefs’ weaker areas, although WR Rashee Rice showed promise towards the end of the previous season and playoffs.
With Mahomes leading the offense, he now has a receiving corps consisting of TE Travis Kelce, Brown, and Rice, with the possibility of further additions.
This move echoes the Chiefs’ strategy prior to the 2022 season when they acquired WR Juju Smith-Schuster to lead their receiving corps.
Since Tyreek Hill’s departure to the Miami Dolphins, the Chiefs have been rotating wide receivers in search of a true No. 1 option to complement the dynamic Kelce.
Despite the ongoing changes in the wide receiver position, the Chiefs have continued to succeed, winning the last two Super Bowls with a rotating ensemble of receivers.
A new weapon for Patrick Mahomes: Former Ravens and Cardinals WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, per sources.
During is final season in Baltimore in 2021, Brown had 91 catches for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. During… pic.twitter.com/oGD82iazKb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2024
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Looks to Rebound in KC
Brown was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Ravens and proved to be an effective weapon for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
According to Schefter, “During is final season in Baltimore in 2021, Brown had 91 catches for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.”
Brown improved with each season with the Ravens, finishing his three seasons with 195 catches, 2,361 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns.
The receiver was dissatisfied with his role in Baltimore’s run-first offense, so the Ravens traded him to the Arizona Cardinals following the 2021 season.
The Cardinals had high hopes for Hollywood Brown’s partnership with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, anticipating it would create a dynamic offense and allow Brown to elevate his game. However, this envisioned success never materialized for Brown and the Cardinals.
According to Adam Schefter, during his tenure in Arizona spanning 26 games over two seasons, Brown amassed 118 catches for 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns. Injuries to both Brown and Murray resulted in inconsistent performances for the team.
Now, Brown will return to the AFC and reunite with one of the league’s top quarterbacks, presenting him with an opportunity to recapture the form that saw him surpass the 1,000-yard mark in 2021.
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Chiefs Still the AFC Favorites Over the Ravens
When the Ravens signed RB Derrick Henry, the idea was that they had closed the gap or maybe surpassed the Chiefs as the AFC’s favorites.
The Ravens fell short of their Super Bowl ambition this season, as the Chiefs defeated them 17-10 in the AFC championship game last season.
However, following Brown’s signing, Vegas Insiders now has the Chiefs with greater odds than the Ravens for both the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs are +360 favorites to win the AFC Championship, while the Ravens are second with +425 odds. The difference is tiny, so Brown’s acquisition could have tilted things in favor of the defending champions.
The Ravens are third in the Super Bowl odds at +900, with the Chiefs second at +600. The San Francisco 49ers now have the best odds to win the Super Bowl, at +500.
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