Brown will be a popular player in the locker room

Mahomes (right) is hoping he'll have a new go-to receiver in Brown...

Mahomes (right) is hoping he’ll have a new go-to receiver in Brown (left). Lapresse

ust like a cat, Marquise Brown has landed on his feet. After playing the past two seasons with the lowly Arizona Cardinals, Brown has signed on the dotted line of a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions — for whom he is expected to play a key role in their bid for a three-peat.

Brown is already impressing his new teammates, even though he only signed on March 18. Fellow receiver Rashee Rice and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes are excited to welcome Brown into the fold, where the former first-round pick should bolster the underachieving receiver corps from 2023.

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Mahomes discusses Hollywood’s hunger

At the NFL 101 Awards, Mahomes said that Brown’s “hunger” and desire to compete at the highest level immediately stood out to him. That determination to succeed when the lights are brightest could make Brown stand out in close games next January, when the Chiefs will try to reach Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

“You can tell he wants to win,” Mahomes said. “You can tell that he wants to be a part of something special, a part of greatness. We’re trying to build that here.”

Brown began his career with the Baltimore Ravens — arguably the Chiefs’ top competition in the AFC entering the 2024 season. Injuries have plagued Brown at various points in his five-year career, but it was just two seasons ago when he recorded 91 receptions for 1,008 yards while wearing a Ravens jersey.

Brown played 24 games and hauled in seven touchdowns during his two seasons in Arizona, numbers that might have seen a boost had quarterback Kyler Murray been healthy to start the 2023 season. But Brown stayed strong mentally throughout the trying times in the desert, which new teammate Rice has seen in brief interactions with him.

“He’s got good energy,” Rice said at the 101 Awards. “He’s a good dude, easy to be around.”