Sources – Chiefs to signal Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown

Former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals huge receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is predicted to signal a one-year deal price as much as $11 million with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday evening.

The transfer provides quarterback Patrick Mahomes the improve at huge receiver the workforce had been looking for because the Tremendous Bowl.

The Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers for his or her second straight Lombardi Trophy final month regardless of one of many least productive huge receiver teams within the NFL. Rookie Rashee Rice (79 catches, 938 yards, 7 TDs) developed into a powerful choice within the passing recreation, however the Chiefs in any other case have been left to depend on journeymen and stopgaps as they chased one other title.

Mahomes accomplished 77% of his passes with six passing touchdowns and no interceptions when focusing on Rice; that quantity dropped to 57% when focusing on another huge receiver, in addition to extra interceptions (9) than touchdowns (six). The drop fee of all different receivers outdoors of Rice was additionally over 3 times as excessive (3% to 10%) because the Chiefs dropped extra passes than another workforce final season.

The Chiefs had counted on massive seasons from Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney, however all have been disappointments. Valdes-Scantling caught simply 21 passes regardless of enjoying in 16 video games and was just lately launched. Mecole Hardman and Richie James additionally performed at huge receiver final season with Hardman catching the profitable landing in extra time of Tremendous Bowl LVIII; they each are free brokers.

Brown might be the proper complement to Rice in a new-look assault that features just lately signed tight finish Irv Smith Jr. alongside star tight finish Travis Kelce.

In an Instagram publish Thursday evening, Brown wrote “Blessed Past Measures…Excited To Be Aside Of Chiefskingdom” whereas posting an image of himself in a Chiefs uniform. Additionally within the publish, he included a screenshot of a recruiting pitch Chiefs coach Andy Reid apparently despatched him earlier within the day.

Brown, who was traded to the Cardinals by the Ravens in 2022, didn’t get the long-term deal he was searching for main into the 2023 marketing campaign and was hampered by a heel damage final season.

Accidents have turn into a latest issue for Brown, who hasn’t performed a full season since 2020.

Brown, who turns 27 on June 4, completed 2023 with a career-low 574 yards in 14 video games. He had 51 catches and 4 touchdowns on 101 targets, his third straight yr with triple-digit targets. Nonetheless, he set profession lows in yards per goal (5.68) and yards after catch (164).

He entered the NFL because the twenty fifth decide within the 2019 draft by the Ravens. He has 313 profession receptions for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns. His lone 1,000-yard season got here in 2021, when he caught 91 passes for 1,008 yards for Baltimore.

Additionally on Thursday, the Chiefs agreed to re-sign defensive deal with Derrick Nnadi, based on his brokers.

Nnadi, 27, began each regular-season recreation at defensive deal with in 2023, however his season got here to an finish after struggling a triceps damage through the wild-card spherical playoff win over the Miami Dolphins. He was placed on the injured reserve record.

He completed the season with 29 tackles and a sack.

Nnadi, who joined the Chiefs in 2018 as a third-round draft decide from Florida State, has performed in 98 regular-season video games with 86 begins. He had 222 tackles, 5 sacks and an interception.

ESPN’s Adam Teicher and Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Stats & Info and The Related Press contributed to this report.