Cardinals WR Marquise Brown Has Plenty Riding on Big 2023 Season

The Arizona Cardinals' newest No. 1 WR has a lot to prove in his contract year.

With loss comes opportunity, and that's exactly what the Arizona Cardinals are hoping to squeeze out of Marquise Brown in 2023. 

After losing DeAndre Hopkins, Brown effectively slides into the WR1 role in the desert, leading a group of young and talented receivers who have yet to prove themselves. 

We've seen what Brown can do when healthy - in the eight games played without Hopkins last season, he notched 50 catches for 553 receiving yards. A full season of similar production would be welcomed in a Cardinals offense going through some massive changes. 

Brown will hit free agency after 2023, and Pro Football Focus highlighted him as one of a handful of players who have the most riding on a contract year:

"When a player gets traded for premium draft capital, they gain a lot of leverage in extension talks with the new front office, as the general manager has already invested a great deal in the player to that point. One way to quickly erode that leverage? For that general manager to be fired, and now the player and his representation are no longer negotiating with a front office that carries the same sunk-cost feelings toward the player. This is exactly what transpired here with Brown in Arizona, as Steve Keim was the one who sent the Baltimore Ravens a first-round pick for Brown and a third-round pick, but Keim is no longer running the show," wrote Brad Spielberger.

"This isn’t to suggest extending Brown shouldn’t be a priority for Monti Ossenfort and company, but the new regime in Arizona gets to operate from a clean slate and it’s not their concern what was given up to acquire Brown’s services in the first place. That said, Brown was very productive in 2022 when healthy, ranking in the top 15 among wide receivers in targets, receptions and contested catches over the weeks he played. Once his college teammate Kyler Murray returns, and with DeAndre Hopkins no longer in the fold, Brown could perhaps finally prove he has No. 1 wide receiver ability and win over another regime in Arizona to the tune of a major extension."

With a new offense that seemingly wants to prioritize running the ball more, it will be interesting to see the opportunities Brown will get outside of Kliff Kingsbury's pass-happy offense. Kyler Murray's rehab from a torn ACL and his unknown timetable for return also puts another interesting spin on the upcoming season. 

Brown himself understands what's at stake this year.

"I want to prove I could be the guy. I want to prove that as an offense, as a team, that we can be that team that we know we can be," said Brown earlier in the offseason. "I feel like everybody feels that way - from coaches to the players.

"I feel like I haven't played my best football yet. I've been working this whole offseason just to make sure I can sustain a healthy season and showcase my ability for a full season."

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