The Kansas City Chiefs have minimal repairs to make this offseason after winning two consecutive Super Bowls and retaining most of their key personnel. However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggled with deep passes in the 2023 season, completing just 24 of 76 attempts of 20 or more air yards. This resulted in 817 yards, two touchdowns, six interceptions, and a league-worst passer rating of 49.1 among starting quarterbacks.
To address the deep receiver deficit caused by the departure of Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs drafted Texas speed receiver Xavier Worthy with the 28th overall pick. Additionally, they signed former Ravens and Cardinals receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a one-year, $7 million deal. Brown had a decent season with the Cardinals, catching six passes of 20 or more air yards for 175 yards and a touchdown. The hope is that Brown can help Mahomes improve his deep passing game.
Head coach Andy Reid praised Brown for his intelligence and ability to communicate with Mahomes. He emphasized the importance of receivers being willing to listen and share what they see on the field to develop a good relationship with the quarterback. The potential pairing of Mahomes and Brown could be beneficial for both players and help the Chiefs improve their offensive performance.
Analysts Greg Cosell and others believe that Brown’s speed and separation abilities make him a good fit for the Chiefs’ offense. With Brown’s experience in multiple NFL offenses, he could quickly adapt and contribute positively to the team’s success in the upcoming season. The addition of Worthy will also provide depth at wide receiver position which will benefit Mahomes in terms of having more options when it comes to making deep passes
