Marquise Brown is heading into March 2024 as one of the top free agents available among the wide receiver class. “Hollywood” is part of a deep contingent of intriguing wideouts eligible for a new NFL home alongside Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Mike Evans, and Michael Pittman Jr.
Even though Brown is in a deep pool of free agent WRs, he’s likely to still garner interest from other teams. Time to map out which ones best fit the past 1,000-yard wideout.
Marquise Brown Free Agency Landing Spots
Brown is PFN’s No. 5 ranked free agent wide receiver for the ’24 class.
It wasn’t long ago — the 2021 season, to be exact — that the 5’9″, 181-pound target established himself as a 90-catch WR. Brown snatched 91 receptions for 1,008 yards that season while playing with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
Injuries have limited Brown’s production since his arrival to the Arizona Cardinals, as he’s been bottled to 24 combined starts the last two years.
He most recently missed the last three games of the 2023 season with a heel ailment that landed him on injured reserve Dec. 29. Before his heel injury, Brown has additionally dealt with knee, hamstring, and foot sprains.
Yet despite his injury history, Brown still managed to establish himself as a 51-to-67-catch wideout for the Cards.
He also found the end zone seven times with Arizona. Even with the injury bug, Cardinals quarterbacks still targeted him often, sending 107 and 101 passes his way in ’22 and ’23, respectively.
MORE: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings
Brown is still effective with his short-area quickness and can bolster a team’s slot WR needs. His cutting ability still allows him to get open and gain separation against his defender.
He’s never been known as a contested-catch receiver. But still, he’s capable of thriving in a WR-needy scenario, especially working the middle or sidelines on the short-to-intermediate passing plays. He’s PFN’s No. 30 overall free agent for ’24 — and is expected to command plenty of attention from other teams.
Super Bowl Champs Present a Potential Landing Spot for Brown
As receiver-friendly as the Kansas City Chiefs offense is, the team can never have enough wideouts.
Turns out, Brown was once thought of as an appealing midseason trade option for the Chiefs by NFL analysts before the 2023 trade deadline. Given KC’s immense success with diminutive but explosive wideouts, it’s easy to see why Brown would be considered a fit.
But now, the back-to-back champs are likely to say goodbye to polarizing WR Kadarius Toney. Richie James and Mecole Hardman are also free agents. Brown can be a veteran possibility here and snatch footballs from another Most Valuable Player in Patrick Mahomes. His speed should allow him to be a relatively seamless fit in the Chiefs offense.
Reunion With Ravens’ Passing Game Specialist in New Orleans Another Idea
Brown had the most success with the Ravens, recording 195 of his 313 career catches plus 21 of his 28 total touchdowns in Baltimore.
And his career-best 2021 season came with Keith Williams by his side as assistant WR coach and passing game specialist. “Coach Dub” has now joined the New Orleans Saints as their full-time WR coach, with the announcement coming Tuesday.
The Saints may have ranked 11th in passing yards in 2023, but no one outside of Chris Olave recorded more than 50 receptions. Pro Bowl WR Michael Thomas has also been the subject of trade rumors, as he has one year left on his current deal — plus, he has seen his production drop due to injuries (Thomas hasn’t started in more than seven games since 2020).
If Brown wants to aim to match his 2021 production while solidifying a team’s WR corps, perhaps New Orleans is the best fit.
Titans Likely To Build WR Arsenal for Will Levis
Lastly, Brown’s name could surface as a free agent target for a new regime. This scenario tees up the Tennessee Titans as a potential landing spot.
The franchise is turning to offensive mind Brian Callahan as head coach, and he’s bringing a Cincinnati Bengals-like passing attack to Nashville. But considering this offense is a hybrid of the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay offense and the San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan-designed scheme, this system is tailor-made for smaller WRs like Brown to thrive in.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Free Agency Predictions
Callahan is likely going to call for more shifts, motions, and play-action passing this fall. It’s perfect for Brown, as he already has the foot speed for this type of attack. But here’s another reason why Nashville is intriguing for Brown: Tennessee has its QB of the future in 2023 rookie Will Levis.
A young signal-caller typically has the best chance of success when surrounded by a mix of veteran and young pass catchers. Consequently, Nashville could be one prominent destination for Brown.
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