One year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs’ signing of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was a significant talking point, a free agent move ranked among the most shrewd for the defending champs. One spring later, the same move by the Chiefs’ front office is flying under the radar when the impact could be everything K.C. envisioned in the first place.

Last spring, the Chiefs signed Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million in free agency in a move designed to bolster a lackluster wide receiving corps and give Patrick Mahomes another reliable target. The team also drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round, and the moves should have significantly boosted the offense.

The reality, of course, is that the opposite happened. Brown was lost nearly the entire season after making his first catch in a preseason game. Rashee Rice went down for good after four weeks. And the offense looked older and slower overall, despite a splendid first year for Worthy.

So while fans have been forced to wait a full year for the actual results, the fact that Brown is now healthy and even experienced in Andy Reid’s offensive system should have Chiefs Kingdom anticipating great things.

Let’s not forget that the Chiefs’ signing of Brown in 2024 was turning heads all around the league. Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger said, “The rich get richer in Kansas City” and graded the move with an A+. Jamie Erdahl of Good Morning Football called it the most impactful WR signing of the offseason.

At the very least, Chiefs fans got a glimpse of Brown’s usefulness in the offense late in the year when he returned from the clavicular injury that robbed him of all but two regular-season games. His presence opened things up for Worthy and others, and Mahomes displayed a clear trust in Brown as a downfield target.

Brown should make life even easier for the Chiefs’ offense in 2025 with Rice back from injury as well. Further draft additions like Brashard Smith in the backfield and Jalen Royals at wideout will only present Mahomes with more options, forcing defenses to respect the myraid targets available in the passing game.

As the Chiefs head into the third and final round of offseason training activities, they’re hoping for a much healthier go-around for Brown in 2025. And if he’s able to stay on the field, the move to bring him back for another campaign will be viewed as one of the most impactful decisions by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach in 2025.