On draft night the Baltimore Ravens dealt speedy wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick. The move, while shocking to many, was a typical Ravens front office move.
Brown is an extremely talented receiver who never really showed more than solid No. 2 receiver production, but the club knew he would be requesting a big payday next season.
It was a mutual parting of the ways, as Brown had long expressed his desire to play in an offense that was less rush-centric and more creative in the passing game. Now that he’s gotten his wish, the former Oklahoma Sooners speedster is throwing some subtle shots at his former team.
New Beginnings 🌹 pic.twitter.com/7NmQ12oeal
— Hollywood Brown (@Primetime_jet) May 4, 2022
In an interview with Arizona media, Brown had litany of things to say, particularly about the talent around him, which is fair. Lamar Jackson has never had any elite receivers to throw to. You could call Brown the best of an average bunch and he commanded that attention. He doesn’t want that responsibility.
“In college I had guys around me, CeeDee Lamb. I’ve played with Mark Andrews. It’s not about the targets, it’s about what type of targets.”
“I’ve been in an offense where I’ve been getting all the attention, I’ve been getting the cloud coverages, I’m excited to get some one-on-one matchups and spread the field out.”
Brown Reunited With Kyler Murray: Team Needed Him With Hopkins Out
The trade reunites Brown with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray. In 2018-19 the two connected 75 times for 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the Oklahoma Sooners to the College Football Playoffs.
Murray was elated about the trade and even took to Twitter with a positive post after months of frigid communication with the franchise.
Let’s run it back! Hollywood to the desert… Y’all welcome my boy! @Primetime_jet 🔥🥋🚀
— Kyler Murray (@K1) April 29, 2022
The move gives Brown a fresh start and helps soften the blow of the Cards losing All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who’ after missing most of last season with an injury, was suspended the first six games of the season for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy. Having Brown will allow Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury to still be able to implement their uptempo “Air Raid” attack.
Brown Has Had A Problem With Drops
Brown has flashed some dynamic ability and made some great catches throughout his brief career, but he’s also had way too many of those head-scratching drops. Last season he finished with 91 receptions for 1,008 yards, his first 1000-yard season. But what’s awkward is him complaining about a Ravens offense that targeted him 146 times (10th-most in the league).
Most receivers complain about lack of targets. Considering he’s been one of the most targeted receivers in the league the last two seasons, Brown should have no beef.
In 2020, he was targeted 100 times and had only 58 receptions. Brown is durable, playing in 46 of 48 games in his three-year career, but this notion that he wasn’t targeted enough — or in the right way — is strange.
Brown should flourish in the wide-open offense of the Cardinals, and he’ll once again have a dynamic signal caller. One who’ll scramble to pass more than run. For the sake of Kingsbury’s job security and Murray’s extension, they’d better hope “Quise,” is really “Hollywood.”
