Coming off yet another Super Bowl victory, Kansas City did so the hard way. Unlike their previous two winning runs, the Chiefs had become offensively deficient.
Despite hosting a defensive core that is young, sprite and which was one of the best in the league statistically – the team had become unrecognisable, devoid of the electricity, flair and panache often a fixture of Andy Reid offenses.
In large part, that came down to the relationship between Patrick Mahomes and his receiving core.
Rebalancing the offense had always been a struggle ever since Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins in the 2022 offseason. However, General Manager, Brett Veach had fared well in constructing a temporary, if not, first-rate fix
Though the Chiefs had lost that aspect of dynamism which Hill brought, Veach and Head Coach, Reid, got creative immediately.
Between the two, they have produced a perfect template in roster management – replacing Hill with a committee of solid, inexpensive contributors headed by the likes of Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Nevertheless, while that strategy brought yet more Super Bowl glory – it was hardly built for long-term success.
When Smith-Schuster left for the New England Patriots last off-season, the Chiefs were forced to retool once more.
Yet, led by the likes of Valdez-Scantling, the Chiefs receiving core finally showed their true colours. As a group, they never showed up in 2023. In truth, they weren’t even close.
In a twist of irony, this can perhaps best be seen by the fact that Mecole Hardman caught that Super Bowl winning reception over the 49er’s.
A long-time Chief, Hardman had signed with the New York Jets in the prior off-season. However, after losing his starting spot in New York, he was once again traded back to Kansas City for a sixth-round 2025 draft selection.
In a series of twists, turns and roundabouts – he is probably the one who has most epitomised the Chiefs’ exercise in crisis management.
Though ultimately reaching success, the feeling around Arrowhead Stadium has since shifted, with the time coming to focus on a sustainable fix on offense.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is representative of the first cog in that wheel.
Cousin of the effervescent Antonio, Hollywood was always viewed as a potential star receiver coming out of the University of Oklahoma.
Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the 25th pick in the 2019 draft, he was also on the way to fulfilling that promise.
A steady first year in Baltimore was followed with further progression, and by the 2021 season, Brown had accounted for his first season of over 1,000 yards receiving – also catching for six touchdowns in the process.
However, things were not so serene under the surface.
Unhappy by Baltimore’s offensive system, Brown had asked to be traded before the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Ravens satisfied those wishes, trading Brown and a third-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals – reuniting the Floridian with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray.
Despite opining for his move to Arizona, things have not gone to plan since.
Dealing with a poor quarterback situation and an injury hit first year, this was backed up by a lowly 574 yards in receiving and four touchdowns last season – the worst of his career so far.
So what does Andy Reid see in Brown?
For one – speed and explosiveness.
The Chiefs have sorely missed the ability to stretch the field and they have now acquired that much needed deep threat.
More – though fleeting, Brown has also shown ability at the primary wide-receiver spot in that third year with Baltimore.
Of course, there will be question marks over whether he can re-produce, but he has shown he can do it with another leading offense.
Speaking to the media this week, Patrick Mahomes gave his first impressions of the newcomer.
“With Hollywood, I think you obviously see the speed, you see the speed instantly.
“What I’ve liked so far is how hard he works, he’s been at the workouts, been at the route running and he wants more. He wants to continue to push himself more and more, and I think he has a hell of a great role in this offense the way he’s able to run routes, the way he’s able to stretch the field.
“I think he’ll be even different than you’ve seen him before because I think we can utilize him in different ways than I think he’s been utilized in yet.”
With an upcoming draft which is heavily loaded at wide-receiver, Brown may just be the start of the Chiefs offensive rebuild.
He also allows Kansas City to take different directions – the ability to pair him with another dynamic player who can stretch the top, or perhaps the capability to solidify the middle of the field.
Along with an ageing Travis Kelce, Brown is the potential centrepiece in a Chiefs receiving core which can go from zero to hero overnight.
His importance only now increases given the recent travails of Rashee Rice and the probability of suspension of some sort.
The second-year wide-receiver, who now faces eight charges after his recent involvement in a chain-reaction car crash on a Dallas freeway, was the Chiefs’ leading light on offense last year.
Of course, there is the possibility that all of this does not work out. There is the chance that it leaves the Chiefs in an even worse position.
However, at a one-year deal worth $7 million dollars, it is a trial run well worth taking.
Who knows, it could prove to be yet another Reid-Veach masterstroke.
Sportswide Blog 
Leave a comment