When Marquise Hollywood Brown agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, it made Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb take a shot at his long-time buddy. Amid multiple posts celebrating the move, Lamb jumped in with a playful warning on social media. While the comment could grab attention for its tone, it was all in good fun.

“Imma beat yo a–,” Lamb wrote this strong message on his Instagram story, reacting to the NFL’s post on Brown’s move to Philly.

Lamb’s reaction to the move may seem harsh at first, but it’s likely more about friendly competition than anything serious. It’s because the two are reportedly “close” as their friendship goes way back. They played together in college for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2017 to 2018. During their time together, they caught passes from back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners and No. 1 overall NFL draft picks, Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018). 

Brown exited the following year after the Baltimore Ravens came calling, while Lamb stayed on for another season. Over the years, the duo has remained tight, with Lamb praising and supporting Brown on multiple occasions. When Lamb first entered the league, Brown sent him a special welcome jersey. More recently, Lamb posted a warning to the NFL on social media when Brown was activated from the IR by the Chiefs, writing, “It’s timeeee”.

Apart from that, the duo often checks in with each other during major career shifts. For example, he personally called Brown to verify and discuss his trade to the Arizona Cardinals in 2022.

“I saw it on TV, just as well as everyone else did, Brown said. “So, I had to make that phone call. Like, I was like, ‘Bro, is this true?’ And then my man was, you know, he was excited. To see him smiling again, happy again, excited to be in the offense. I felt like he belonged there. So, I’m excited to see what he and K1 (Kyler Murray) do. Glad to see them boys back together.”

In the NFL, the duo faced each other three times. Their first encounter occurred in Baltimore during Lamb’s rookie season. Brown caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to help seal a 34-17 Ravens victory. While playing for the Cardinals, Brown once again put up a score against the Cowboys with a 2-yard touchdown catch. Last year, during a Thanksgiving Day thriller, Lamb finally took his revenge. He scored the first touchdown of the game and finished with over 100 receiving yards in the Cowboys’ 31-28 win over the Chiefs.

Lamb’s warning feels especially exciting because Brown now plays for a direct NFC East rival of the Dallas Cowboys. Because of this, the duo is guaranteed to face each other twice in the upcoming season. But as compared to Lamb’s position with the Cowboys, Brown might have to settle for a lesser role with the Eagles. His stint with the Chiefs stands to be very inconsistent. In 2024, he could contribute just two times because of an injury.

But last year, he bounced back stronger with 49 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns. However, due to the loss of time, he doesn’t have many numbers under his belt. That’s exactly why he’ll likely take on the WR3 role behind stars like DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. He’s replacing Jahan Dotson, who joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency last week. This will be Brown’s fourth NFL franchise as he enters his eighth year in the league. While they didn’t disclose the amount, a source told ESPN that the contract is worth up to $6.5 million.

While this comes up as a useful addition to the Eagles’ roster, the team might have to reconsider Marquise Brown’s position in the WR room.

Hollywood Brown could see a bigger role ahead after A.J. Brown’s exit

There has been solid speculation around the New England Patriots’ interest in A.J. Brown throughout the offseason. And of course, the star player’s bitter relationship with the Eagles adds to the growing chatter. However, Nick Sirianni’s team is not ready to move on from its veteran receiver just yet. The Patriots reportedly contacted the other side, but the deal didn’t materialize after they failed to give up their first-round pick.

With that, Brown’s future hangs in the balance with the possibility of trade talks picking up again after June 1. This deadline is important because of the financial implications tied to the receiver’s contract. A post-June 1 trade would allow the Eagles to spread his $43.5 million dead cap hit across two years. They would incur a hit of $16 million for this season and the remaining $27 million next season. Because of this situation, many around the league expect Philadelphia to at least reconsider its options once that window opens.

In the meantime, they will develop Hollywood Brown, who’s not of the same caliber as A.J. Brown. But the former’s presence still offers Philly some insurance in case they ship the proven playmaker. Hollywood can take on a bigger role in A.J. Brown’s absence, especially with Johnny Wilson still recovering from his ACL injury. Meanwhile, the Patriots could pursue Brown again because they might be the only team with A.J. Brown on their wishlist.

Earlier, the Los Angeles Rams were also eyeing him before NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport claimed they were “out.” A.J.’s murky future and Hollywood’s arrival hint that the Eagles might already be preparing for a potential shift in their offensive lineup.