Cardinals Could Get Marquise Brown on Cheap Deal
ARIZONA -- There's been plenty of talk and speculation surrounding the future of Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown, who is in the final three games of his rookie contract.
The Cardinals are projected to add major help to their wideout room in one shape or form this offseason, though Brown could be brought back depending on what the organization wants to do moving forward.
Brown previously has said the team has carried negotiations with him deep into the season - and there appears to be mutual interest on both sides in a return to the desert.
But what would a second contract look like for Brown?
It's tough to forecast what a deal would look like for the former first-round pick, as his talents haven't exactly been matched by his production or availability.
Brown has been a recurring name on the injury report this season despite not missing any action, though his recent heel problem does have the Cardinals concerned.
Previously, Pro Football Focus put out projections of their top free agents, and Brown was slated to receive the franchise tag in their first evaluations which would see him (if the team couldn't reach a long-term extension) earn over $20 million guaranteed for one season.
Now, the deal looks a little less appetizing.
Listed as the No. 4 WR option heading into free agency, PFF's Nathan Jahnke offered the following on Arizona's current WR1:
"The Ravens traded Brown and a third-round pick to the Cardinals for a 2022 first-round pick, and his time in Arizona has been a journey, to say the least. Between his own injuries and Kyler Murray’s torn ACL, the former college teammates haven’t been able to team up as much as the old regime probably hoped, but he has flashed when in the lineup," he wrote.
"It’s hard to come up with a solid comparable player for a 5-foot-9, 180-pound outside wide receiver — although now the NFL is adding more of this archetype each year — and it’s also fair to wonder how badly Arizona wants to extend anyone, given their timeline and the emergence of rookie wideout Michael Wilson.
"Top free agent comparison: Christian Kirk, 2022
"Projected Deal: One year, $12 million fully guaranteed"
The Cardinals are currently projected to have ample cap space next offseason, putting them in prime position to spend big if they so desire.
As of now, only four Cardinals are earning more than $12 million (as far as 2023 cap hits via Spotrac):
- Budda Baker $17.9 million
- Kyler Murray $16 million
- Marquise Brown $13.4 million
- D.J. Humphries $12.5 million
The suggested $12 million figure would put Brown as WR24 in terms of average salary this season. His current market value is at $14.8 million on Spotrac.
