Jordan Hamm
The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly traded their first round pick for BaltimorRavens wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. The Cardinals also receive pick No. 100.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound receiver is entering his fourth season in the NFL and is coming off a season where he caught 91 passes for 1008 yards and six touchdowns. In three seasons, he’s totaled 317 catches for 2,361 and 21 scores.
Brown and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray teamed up at the college level at Oklahoma. In Murray’s Heisman season in 2018, Brown led the team with 1,318 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
“Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is a guy that brings a number of things to the table. Number one: We have controlled cost for several years with his contract. We have a guy who has chemistry with our quarterback Kyler Murray and we have that vertical threat we’ve been looking for.”
Keim said the team has been high on the wide receiver since they met with him in pre-draft meetings in 2019.
“A number of years ago when he was coming out, we had him as our 13th best player on our board,” Keim said. “I tried to trade back into the (first round). I wasn’t able to do that so we now have a second chance at him.”
Brown is slated to make just over $2 million in 2022, and his fifth year option in 2023 would be worth $13,413,000 according to Sportrac.
The Cardinals were expected to address the wide receiver position at some point this offseason. Ahead of Arizona, Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jameson Williams and Jahan Dotson were taken in the first 16 picks.
“(It’s) the element of the unknown versus the guy who’s done it before,” Keim said. “We all try to forecast and project in this business, but to have a guy that’s had the kind of production he’s had, over the three year in Baltimore and the chemistry with our quarterback and the ability to stretch the field vertically, I think everyone was really excited.”
Head coach Kliff Kinsbury also got an up-close look at Brown and was on the receiving end of some chunk plays from the wide receiver in 2017 and 2018.
In those two games, Brown caught 10 passes for 135 yards and a score.
“He’s a dynamic playmaker,” “I had the good fortune or was unfortunate enough to coach against him in college, so I was able to see it live and in person. He’s a special talent, had a great year last year, has gotten better each year. I think is the perfect fit for our system and to add that type of speed on the outside is huge.”
The Arizona Cardinals will make their first selection in the 2022 NFL Draft at pick No. 55 on Friday.
