The Kansas City Chiefs are in the early stages of free agency, and they watched as the receiver market straightened itself out during the legal tampering window. The Chiefs got into the action by agreeing to terms on a two-year, $11 million contract with Tyquan Thornton, but that news brought questions about the future of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
After two seasons in Kansas City, it appears that Brown is on to his next team after Thornton’s return. With the receiver market thinning out, Brown may not have to wait long, and Chiefs fans may be able to follow the tea leaves that suggest he could be on his way to the New York Giants.
While Matt Nagy’s presence as the Giants’ new offensive coordinator is an obvious connection to make, there are plenty of other connections that could make Brown's move to the Big Apple official in the coming days.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown Appears Destined to Leave Chiefs for Giants
The Nagy connection could play a big role, but it’s unlikely to be the main reason Brown could wind up in New York. After suffering a severe collarbone injury during his first year in Kansas City, Brown caught 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns with the Chiefs last season while posting a career-high success rate (54.1 percent) when targeted. His 12.0 yards per reception was also his highest since averaging 13.3 yards per catch during the 2020 season when he played for John Harbaugh.
Speaking of Harbaugh, he is now the head coach of the Giants and is inheriting a receiver room that could use a veteran like Brown. While Malik Nabers is the top playmaker, he is recovering from a torn ACL, and the rest of the depth chart is thin with Wan’Dale Robinson’s departure to the Tennessee Titans, leaving names like Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Dalen Cambre, and Beaux Collins behind Nabers.
With Jalin Hyatt the only other drafted receiver on the roster (and looking like he won’t be there for long), the Giants will be looking for a playmaker as the offseason continues. A draft pick like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon, or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson could all be in play with the No. 5 overall pick, but it also could be complemented by a receiver with the resume that Brown has.
Over seven NFL seasons, Brown has 371 receptions for 4,322 yards and 33 touchdowns. No other receiver on the Giants roster comes close to those numbers. Even if Brown is just a downfield threat as the No. 3 option, his role wouldn’t change much from what he was asked to do in Kansas City.
The Chiefs will look to replace Brown with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Thornton as their top receivers. Kansas City could even make a splashier move by trading for a playmaker like Brian Thomas Jr. Regardless of what the Chiefs do next, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Brown wound up heading to New York as his time in Kansas City comes to an end.