Winning NFL Teams (Chiefs, Ravens) Do Smart Things In Offseason While Losing Teams (Cardinals) Often Don't

This is an NFL truism: Good teams are built in the offseason when they do smart things, while bad teams doom themselves in the offseason when they do dumb or desperate things. And I present to you Marquise "Hollywood" Brown as people's exhibit 3,432,203 as evidence.

Hollywood Brown signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs this week and was introduced to the Kansas City media on Monday.

Say hello, Hollywood …

"Kansas City was a place I told [my agent] I wanted to be if there was an opportunity and it kind of just unfolded," Brown said. "I let him do his job and God made it happen."

Praise God!

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals stretches as he warms up prior to an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Brown Another Chiefs Weapon

And praise the Chiefs front office that is getting a 26-year-old receiver with a lot of production in his five NFL seasons and has potential to be even better – particularly with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the football and coach Andy Reid making sure Brown gets opportunities.

The coach and the quarterback were among the reasons Brown wanted to go play for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.

"Pat was a big part of it, being able to play with Pat, coach Reid, a winning culture," Brown said. "The offense I felt like I could come in, and I could help, I could fit in. All those things played a part. They were strong on me, so there was mutual interest. That is very appealing."

You know what's also very appealing? Doing smart things.

The Chiefs did a smart thing in landing a receiver upgrade for $7 million. The Ravens in 2019 did a smart thing by selecting Brown in the first round of the NFL draft for his high potential. 

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 08: Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Bad Trade For Cardinals

And, no, Brown never actually became one of the NFL's best receivers after being picked. His best season was 2021 when he caught 91 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns.

So he was good for the smart Ravens.

Now you want to know which team didn't do a smart thing? The Arizona Cardinals.

In 2022, seeing that the offense was run-heavy and didn't cater to his greatest skills, Brown asked to be traded. The Ravens contacted teams about Brown's availability. And the Cardinals decided a good-not-great receiver would be a fine addition.

And then the Cardinals promptly got bamboozled into giving up a first-round pick for Brown.

Understand: Brown went to Arizona in the final year of his original rookie contract. The Cardinals then had to pick up his fifth-year option for roughly $13.4 million to keep him last season. And now he and that first-round pick they dealt are gone.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 20: Center Tyler Linderbaum #64 and quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens line up against the Houston Texans defense during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Ravens, Chiefs Reap Benefits From Brown

The Cardinals gave up their 23rd overall selection in the 2022 first round to get Brown. Baltimore had originally used the 25th overall selection in the 2019 draft. So the Ravens got a premium.

The Ravens also sent Arizona a third-round selection (No. 100 overall) in the deal to keep it from being a total ripoff.

Then this happened:

The Ravens used Arizona's pick to trade back two spots and add a fourth-round pick. And they selected center Tyler Linderbaum with the No 25 overall pick. The former Rimington Trophy winner was an instant starter for the Ravens, was on the all-rookie teams and was selected to the Pro Bowl in his second season.

The fourth-round pick turned out to be punter Jordan Stout, who last season was 12th in the NFL in punts inside the 20 yard line.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, used the third-round selection they got from Baltimore on defensive end Myjai Sanders – whom they waived six months later.

So out of that Hollywood Brown trade that brought Arizona a top receiver and a third round pick the Cardinals today have zero to show for it.

The Ravens have a Pro Bowl center and solid punter.

And the Chiefs have a receiver they just signed as a free agent for a relatively modest price.

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 08: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid exits the field after defeating the Denver Broncos 28-24 at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

Cardinals Continue Search For WR

To be fair, the Cardinals did go through an organizational change last year and general manager Steve Keim was fired. But new GM Monti Ossenfort decided he didn't value Brown enough to re-sign him. He didn't value Brown as much as the Chiefs.

The Chiefs stated goal for 2024 is to "three-peat."

The Ravens goal for 2024 is obviously to improve on their league-best 13-4 regular-season record from last year and dethrone the Chiefs.

And one of the Cardinals' 2024 goals is still to find a good receiver. But it should also be to stop doing stuff that weakens them and helps make good teams better.