When Hollywood Brown signed with the Chiefs going into 2024, there was plenty of excitement. He was a true speed-and-separation threat entering the offense. Brown appeared primed to deliver adequate levels of production for Kansas City after the team made changes at wide receiver coming off its Super Bowl LVIII win. In the end, the addition never paid off as anyone would have anticipated.
Brown got hurt on the first play of the preseason that year. He would not make his season debut with K.C. until December. Brown provided some flashes after returning from injury. It was enough to believe that, with better health in 2025, the Chiefs would get enough from him as a secondary piece.
After such a hollow run in the Chiefs’ offense, the empty moments definitely outweighed the small successes that Kansas City received from Brown. Now, it is fair to wonder how much the former first-round pick even has left in the tank as he enters free agency, set to turn 29 years old this summer.
Hollywood Brown's contract year in review
Brown appeared in 16 games in 2025. In the end, he amassed 49 receptions, 587 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, and 12 yards per catch. Those totals almost exactly match what Brown provided the Cardinals during his final year in Arizona in the 2023 season. His career grades via Pro Football Focus have all hovered around the same mark when playing double-digit games.
In 2025 specifically, there were plenty of chances where Kansas City tried to take shots down the field with Brown. It was more hit-or-miss than anything when attempting those splash plays. In reality, he still offered some respectable numbers in yards after the catch (4.3) and average separation (3.2 yards), via Next Gen Stats.
But if you look at the totality of those numbers on a per-route basis, it was a fairly average season. Brown just never elevated things for the Chiefs’ offense. That was especially true when they desperately needed it. In fewer chances, Tyquan Thornton came through on shots down the field. There were plenty of vital drives or plays where Brown was not involved or rarely came through.
Hollywood Brown's free-agent market outlook
Spotrac lists Brown’s projected salary per season at just over $5 million on his next deal. That seems about right after his tenure in Kansas City. He is still a veteran who can offer experience to a wide receiver room. Brown is fine as a third or fourth option on the depth chart, but expectations would obviously be even lower than what people had entering his run with the Chiefs—and even those were somewhat tempered going into 2025.
Even while playing double-digit games for most of his career, injuries have been a nagging issue for him. That does not help when Brown profiles as a faster, smaller pass catcher.
You could look to teams that desperately need wide receiver help, like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. The Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders should also look into adding multiple wide receivers this offseason. There are a few others that could make sense with experienced head coaches, like the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts.
Will Hollywood Brown stay or go?
The Chiefs are going to have to make more changes to the wide receiver room yet again this offseason. It has long been overdue to add different sizes and body types at the position. Brown’s stature is already represented with returning pieces in 2026. There were also moments that left too much to be desired. Getting a more concrete source of production and greater dependability could go a long way for Kansas City.
It just does not make much sense to run it back with Brown for a third year. It would honestly be surprising if the Chiefs opted to bring him back. You have to think Kansas City believes it can add a more stable presence for wide receiver depth elsewhere in a more enticing way. It makes sense to think he ends up with a veteran-heavy team in free agency.
Prediction: Hollywood Brown signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract worth up to $8 million