When the Kansas City Chiefs' season came to a close, it appeared to be the end of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown’s time with the team. A second straight disappointing season appeared to be the writing on the wall, and while many weren’t surprised he wound up leaving in free agency, some eyebrows may have been raised when he chose to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
With A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith already in Philadelphia, Marquise Brown appeared to be a third option at best when he agreed to a one-year contract worth a maximum of $6.5 million. But that gamble appears to be going in the wrong direction already, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles acquired Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers and signed him to a one-year, $12.5 million contract extension on Friday.
Brown can’t be thrilled with this news, considering he’s now in a four-way battle for playing time. And depending on how the next few months play out, Brown could be in the mix for a sizable role or could be placed on the trading block as Wicks arrives in Philadelphia.
Former Chiefs WR Marquise Brown’s Role in Doubt After Wicks Trade
On the surface, Brown shouldn’t have much to freak out about. A fifth-round pick by the Packers in the 2023 draft, Wicks has caught 108 passes for 1,328 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first three seasons in the league. But he was never able to earn consistent playing time in a receiver room that featured Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs.
With 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden also in Green Bay, Wicks was expendable and acquired for less than what the Eagles gave up to acquire Jahan Dotson in a trade before the 2024 season. But the one-year contract extension signals Philadelphia has bigger plans, and it should have Hollywood wondering what the endgame is in Philadelphia.
Hollywood Brown’s first point of intrigue will be what the Eagles decide to do with A.J. Brown. A rumored trade with the New England Patriots remains a possibility. However, Philadelphia could decide to keep him, considering he’s still a productive receiver at just 29 years old and would have to eat at least $16.3 million in dead money if they trade him after June 1, per Over The Cap.
If A.J. Brown stays, Marquise Brown will have problems. Smith isn’t going anywhere, and the Eagles clearly think highly of Wicks after he signed his extension. With draft capital also invested and former Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion now the offensive coordinator, there’s a good chance Wicks will get every opportunity to work ahead of Hollywood, creating a training camp battle he may not have expected.
The good news is that the Eagles wouldn’t save money and would only eat $2 million if they release Marquise Brown after that camp battle. It could also lead to a trade ahead of next season, though, where Brown could wind up in a much worse situation than the one he signed on for.
After a rough stint in Kansas City, Chiefs fans probably won’t be shedding tears over this news. Over his two seasons, a collarbone injury muted his impact in 2024, and he had just 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games last season.
Despite those shortcomings in Kansas City, this development is also a complication of what Brown thought would be a better future in Philadelphia, which could now lead him elsewhere sooner than anticipated.