Patrick Mahomes and Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal, and he could steal targets from Rashee Rice when Patrick Mahomes doesn't throw to his go-to pass-catcher, Travis Kelce.
Yet Rice showed promise in his rookie year, hauling in 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the team in touchdown receptions and finished with a slightly higher catch rate (77.5 percent) than Kelce (76.9).
Even with Brown on the Chiefs roster, Rice could top his numbers from the previous year as he continues to build on an existing connection with Mahomes.
Derek Carr and Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr had an up-and-down first year with the New Orleans Saints in part because he played through injuries, but the 10-year veteran established a strong rapport with Chris Olave, who caught 87 passes for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns as the focal point of the 11th-ranked passing offense.
Perhaps the Saints offense takes a step in the right direction under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. If it does, look out for Carr and Olave to pick up where they left off in 2023.
C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins barely missed the cut because of their limited track records.
While the former's impressive rookie campaign doesn't seem like a fluke, one has to wonder if the latter will be his top receiver once Tank Dell gets back on the field.
In Week 12, Dell fractured his fibula and underwent season-ending surgery. Before that game, he had more 100-plus-yard receiving performances than Collins in 2023. From Weeks 12 to 18, Collins recorded three of his five 100-plus-yard receiving games.
By this time next offseason, Stroud and Dell may be an elite duo with Collins as the No. 2 option in the Houston Texans' passing game.
