The Arizona Cardinals could be sending more Keim guys out of town come the NFL trade deadline, and Marquise Brown is one big name they may put on the block.
Last spring, everyone was talking about a potential DeAndre Hopkins trade, and we now know the Arizona Cardinals ended up releasing the former star receiver. As we steamroll toward midseason, the Cards have another receiver they could receive calls for by the trade deadline - Marquise Brown.
Now, with quarterback Kyler Murray returning to in-game action at some point in the next three weeks, it’s hard to see the Cards sending Brown elsewhere. However, judging by the way general manager Monti Ossenfort has been getting rid of guys from the Steve Keim era, it’s something we need to at least consider.
While there are quite a few teams who could use Brown, those projected to be top contenders may at least inquire about him. Ironically, those three teams were also mentioned when rumors swirled about a potential Hopkins trade about six months ago.
3 teams the Arizona Cardinals can trade Marquise Brown to
1 - Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs may be 5-1, but they aren’t as dominant as they have been in the past offensively. They have scored 23 or fewer points four times this year, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been solid but unspectacular - at least for Patrick Mahomes standards.
Next to tight end Travis Kelce, the Chiefs next-best pass catcher is Rashee Rice, who has just 21 catches, 245 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in six contests. Rice will be a great player, but Kansas City will need one more pass-catcher, specifically a Tyree Hill type of talent, to take them to the next level in 2023.
Brown could fit right in and play that role, especially since he’s produced fairly good numbers with the Arizona Cardinals despite a revolving door of quarterbacks dating back to last season. The Chiefs also have no consistent deep threat on the team, as Justin Watson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have combined for just 17 receptions on 29 targets, so Brown could hit the ground running in KC.
2 - Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb is the Dallas Cowboys clear-cut WR1, but no one seems to want to snag the WR2 job in Arlington. Michael Gallup has been a disappointment, and newcomer Brandin Cooks is barely catching over 50 percent of his targets. Tony Pollard has been good out of the backfield and Jake Ferguson has the tight end position locked down, but the Cowboys need more.
Marquise Brown makes a perfect complement to the 6’2, 200 pound Lamb, and as would be the case in Kansas City, he would immediately fill the WR2 role in Arlington. Averaging 14.0 yards per catch, Lamb is also the Cowboys best deep threat, but Brown has a chance to supersede that number with decent quarterback play that Dak Prescott brings.
Brown also has big-play potential that would at least entice Jerry Jones to inquire about his availability. And if Ossenfort is willing to make a deal, then Brown could end up swapping the red bird for a star.
3 - Buffalo Bills
No contending team is more inconsistent offensively than the Buffalo Bills, as through six games, they have put up offensive clinics on three different occasions in Weeks 2, 3, and 4. Unfortunately, the Bills have also scored just 16, 20, and 14 points in their other three games, including their previous two.
While Buffalo could end up on a hot streak come playoff time (if they end up making it, that is), it’s clear they need at least one more piece to get more consistent offensively. As with Lamb, Brown also complements Stefon Diggs well, and he could also form a dynamic trio in a group that also includes Gabriel Davis.
This would give quarterback Josh Allen arguably the NFL’s best pass-catching group with three good receivers, plus tight ends Dalton Kinkaid and Dawson Knox. If Brown ends up in the City of Good Neighbors, then perhaps the Bills can finally break through that threshold and beat the Chiefs if they end up facing one another in the playoffs.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)