Cardinals WR Named One of Top Players in Free Agency
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals are set to see Marquise Brown hit the market as NFL free agency is set to begin shortly.
Brown - acquired from the Baltimore Ravens for a first-round pick - hasn't quite panned out for the Cardinals, and despite contract talks that occurred during the season, Arizona is willing to let Brown test the market.
With names such as Tee Higgins, Mike Evans and Michael Pittman now unavailable, ESPN's Bill Barnwell lists Brown as one of the most valuable receivers up for grabs:
"Brown is a lesson in projection. He spent the first three years of his career in a run-first Ravens offense, then was traded to the Cardinals. Over the first six weeks of 2022, he posted a line that prorates to 122 catches for 1,374 yards and eight touchdowns over a full season. He then sustained a fractured foot, and by the time he returned, he got one more game with Kyler Murray before the quarterback tore his right ACL. In 2023, they got three games together before Brown suffered a heel injury that ruined the end of his season," he wrote.
"I don't think Brown will ever turn into a complete wide receiver -- and injuries have been a nagging problem throughout his career -- but he has legitimate speed and won't turn 27 until June. He's not going to be a No. 1 wide receiver, but he could produce more than you might expect if given the No. 2 role in the right offense."
Calvin Ridley fell in Brown's category in the piece. The tier below included names such as:
Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens; Tyler Boyd, Bengals; Gabe Davis, Bills; Darnell Mooney, Bears; Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs.
Perhaps Brown's talents haven't quite been utilized properly in either Baltimore or Arizona - where would he project best next?
ESPN's Josh Weinfuss says Brown's market could be looking at a nice payday this week.
"Multiple personnel sources at the combine said who was tagged would dictate Brown's market. And thanks to the simple economics of supply and demand, Brown could be staring at a windfall of money once the negotiating period commences on Monday at noon ET," he wrote.
Spotrac has Brown's estimated market value at $14.8 million per season while Pro Football Focus believes he'll sign a one-year deal worth $12 million fully guaranteed.
