Brown may need to take on a larger role in the Cardinals offense to begin the upcoming season after DeAndre Hopkins was suspended six games Monday for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, Lindsay Jones of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Arizona made a splash on Day 1 of the 2022 Draft when it acquired Brown and a third-round pick for the team's first-rounder. He was slated to operate with Hopkins and A.J. Green at wide receiver in the base offense, but Brown now should assume No. 1 duties as of Week 1 of the campaign. Brown is coming off the first 1,000-yard season of his pro career in 2021 and previously worked with quarterback Kyler Murray at Oklahoma in 2018, compiling a 75-1,318-10 line in a high-powered scheme. With Hopkins out of the picture for six contests, Brown's primary competition for targets will be Green, Rondale Moore and Antoine Wesley at wide receiver, tight ends Zach Ertz and rookie second-round selection Trey McBride and top running back James Conner.
Marquise Brown To receive fifth-year option
GM Steve Keim said the Cardinals will exercise the fifth-year option on Brown's rookie contract after acquiring the wide receiver in a draft-day trade with the Ravens on Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: As part of the exchange, Baltimore received the 23rd overall pick in this year's draft, while Arizona gained the speedy Brown and pick No. 100 on Friday. Brown has experience playing with Kyler Murray at Oklahoma, and the former is coming off a three-year stretch in which he upped his catch and yardage totals each season, culminating with a 91-1,008-6 line on 146 targets in 2021. With the Cards, Brown joins a group of wide receivers that boasts DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green and Rondale Moore, along with tight end Zach Ertz and running back James Conner.
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