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Marquise Brown a curious investment

Saw a story saying that Kansas City prioritized re-signing Marquise Brown this offseason, securing him with an $11 million contract for 2025 before he could reach free agency. What I'm not sure is why.

Back in 2021, Brown caught 91 passes for 1,008 yards and 6 TDs with the Ravens. A pretty good year. But the overall picture is of a pretty marginal wideout -- not a difference maker at any point.

Including that season, and in his 2-plus seasons since (he was hurt most of 2024), Brown is one of 38 NFL wideouts to catch at least 200 passes. But his results are among the worst of that group in almost every area.

He's averaged just 6.5 yards per target, for example; that's worse than all of those wide receivers but Elijah Moore. He's also caught only 13 touchdowns, which is a bottom-5 number. His 10.9 yards per reception is better than two of those wide receivers: Moore, and Adam Thielen.

Table, compiled using search tools at pro-football-reference.com, is sorted by yards per target.

WIDE RECEIVERS WITH 200-PLUS RECEPTIONS, 2021-2024
PlayerGTgtRecYdsY/RTDY/Tgt
Brandon Aiyuk57350234355715.22010.2
Justin Jefferson61605407603214.83310.0
A.J. Brown60505324490015.1309.7
Nico Collins51334218323014.8189.7
Ja'Marr Chase62582395542513.7469.3
Jaylen Waddle62444309412913.4209.3
Deebo Samuel59385244359914.8189.3
Tyreek Hill67623430570713.3359.2
Mike Evans62487304441814.5449.1
Tee Higgins54404263368714.0289.1
DeVonta Smith63441308401113.0279.1
CeeDee Lamb65609422540412.8338.9
Tyler Lockett66420285370213.0248.8
Christian Kirk54368245325613.3178.8
Jerry Jeudy58388249342613.8128.8
Cooper Kupp50484346420612.2338.7
Terry McLaurin68499315434213.8278.7
Amon-Ra St. Brown66570430485111.3338.5
Amari Cooper61449262382214.6268.5
D.K. Metcalf65497297412113.9318.3
Chris Godwin53461335372611.1158.1
Stefon Diggs58542365433311.9328.0
Courtland Sutton65432262345813.2228.0
Darnell Mooney60368216295413.7128.0
Tyler Boyd65331231264711.5128.0
Davante Adams64665411527612.8417.9
D.J. Moore68557350437512.5257.9
Drake London50385241304212.6157.9
DeAndre Hopkins52377237295612.5237.8
Adam Thielen57401288307110.7257.7
Jakobi Meyers62457308350411.4207.7
Keenan Allen54517350387711.1247.5
Michael Pittman Jr.65537365396710.9177.4
Brandin Cooks55362227265211.7207.3
Garrett Wilson51469279324911.6146.9
Diontae Johnson58470277313511.3166.7
Marquise Brown44369218238210.9136.5
Elijah Moore61348200216210.896.2

I get it, somewhat. Kansas City will probably be losing Rashee Rice to a suspension at some point. They want some continuity (although Brown didn't actually suit up for the team much last year).

In general though, he's a player who has a better reputation than his career has earned. One 1000-yard season for Baltimore is apparently going a long way for him. He appeared in five games for Kansas City last season (including the playoffs) and caught 14 passes for 141 yards -- that's an average of 2.8 catches for 28 yards, with no touchdowns.

Not a player I'll have any interest in in 2025 drafts.

--Andy Richardson

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