In March of 2024, Chiefs Kingdom was abuzz over the rumors that the Chiefs were looking at signing former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown.
Brown had averaged 62.6 receptions for 728.8 yards and 5.6 touchdowns per season in his first five seasons in the league. While he might not have been a true number one receiver, he joined a wideout-starved team where he was instantly the most proven commodity.
Unfortunately for Brown (and K.C.), things did not go as planned in 2024. Brown was injured in the Chiefs’ first preseason game of the season and missed all but the final two games of the regular season. He was active for Kansas City's postseason run but totaled just 5 receptions for 50 yards and no touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 3 postseason games.
Will Hollywood Brown return on the Chiefs investment on his second try?
The Chiefs re-signed Brown (at a lower price tag) this past offseason in hopes of getting more out of him the second time around. However, once again Brown has been slowed down by injuries this preseason. He didn't record a single reception in K.C.'s 3 preseason games, and many are starting to question if Brown will ever be an every-down caliber wideout again.
The Chiefs’ passing offense has struggled by their lofty standards the past two seasons. Those struggles can be directly linked to shortcomings at wide receiver and offensive tackle. Now the Chiefs are poised to return to form. Rookie Josh Simmons looks poised to solidify the left tackle position for years to come, and K.C. has better wide receiver depth than they have had in years.
While the Chiefs have more depth in pass catchers, their list of proven starting-caliber talent is still somewhat in question. Rice has looked like a star when he was on the field, and Xavier Worthy flashed great upside last season as well. The rest of K.C.'s wideout depth (minus Brown) is better suited to be role players in a rotation. So if K.C. wants to truly get their passing game back to being one of the league's best, they need Hollywood Brown to finally live up to his reputation.
Brown doesn't need to be a superstar, but he does need to be able to stay on the field. If Brown falters, then while Rice is out it really only leaves K.C. with a 165-pound top receiver (Worthy) and a bunch of role players. However, if Brown can regain a little of his old form, it would give the Chiefs a starting-caliber wideout to line up opposite Worthy.
Brown has been practicing lately, and that is good because with games against multiple 2024 playoff teams (including the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens) on the schedule during Rice's suspension, they are going to need him healthy and contributing.
If he can just be the player that he was in Baltimore and Arizona for those first six games, it will go a long way toward helping the offense get off to a fast start and set them up to be one of the league's top units again once Rice returns. Here's to hoping that K.C. finally gets some return on their Hollywood investment.