2016 NFL free agency: Who will Brandon Marshall sign with?
Where will Brandon Marshall sign in 2016 NFL free agency?
While the Brandon Marshall on your fantasy team had a terrific season with the New York Jets, that other Brandon Marshall had a pretty remarkable season himself with the Denver Broncos. After tallying two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, over a hundred tackles, and an interception during the regular season, Marshall capped off the perfect year with the perfect ending: a Super Bowl championship.
Now comes the hard part for the world champions, as John Elway and company must decide who stays and who goes from their title-winning team. Super Bowl MVP Von Miller will clearly be the team’s No. 1 priority this offseason, but Brandon Marshall has to be pretty high on that list as well.
Vitals
Age: 26
Notable stat: has three forced fumbles and two interceptions in his career
Career tackles: 219
Career sacks: 3.5
Contract comparisons
It’s been something of a meteoric rise for Brandon Marshall. After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft by the Jaguars, Marshall bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster before getting released after just one season. He spent most of 2013 on the Broncos’ practice squad before getting his first real crack at starting in 2014 when he replaced an injured Danny Trevathan at inside linebacker. Last season was his first 16-game season as a bonafide starter, and he made the most of it.
Last summer Marshall signed a one-year deal for just $585,000. This summer, he’s poised to rake in something much more substantial. Rey Maualuga’s deal in Cincinnati seems an appropriate goal to reach for, as both players are solid defenders that don’t quite have the same starpower as some of their more high-profile teammates. Maualuga is currently playing on a three-year deal worth $15 million.
Estimate: 3 years/$16 million/$6 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
Marshall has reportedly expressed a strong desire to stay in Denver. “I grew up a Broncos fan. I love the Broncos. I love the organization and community, so I’d love to stay in Denver,” he told NFL Network. But while the loyalty and love is clearly there, Marshall’s also not a fool. In the same interview, he added: “I would definitely love my bank account to grow in these next few months – I would love that.” Who wouldn’t?
Marshall’s situation isn’t as pressing for the Broncos because he’s a restricted free agent, whereas fellow defensive mainstays Von Miller, Danny Trevathan, and Malik Jackson are all unrestricted this summer. That means Denver would at least have the opportunity to match an offer from another team or receive draft pick compensation if they cannot do so, which is only somewhat comforting considering the team’s primary objective must be to keep Marshall, but to keep him at as low of a cost as possible.
If the Broncos can pull off a minor miracle and find a way to retain all three of the players above, then maybe – just maybe – there’ll be enough bread left to grow Marshall’s bank account while keeping him in orange. A more realistic outcome is the team loses either Trevathan and/or Jackson, and then doubles down on their fiscal commitment to Marshall.
If he leaves…
What team couldn’t use a defensive player from the 2015 Denver Broncos, one of the greatest NFL defenses ever? If he walks, Marshall will have no shortage of suitors lining up to sign him. Start with the Atlanta Falcons, who will look to continue strengthening their defense under head coach Dan Quinn. Quinn came from Seattle, so he knows all about maximizing talent from his stud defenders; pairing him with Marshall would be a win-win.
If Marshall wants to stay in the AFC, there are two different teams that need drastic help at the inside linebacker position: the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. Besides Olivier Vernon, Cameron Wake, and Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins’ front seven struggled mightily throughout last season, particularly against the run. Marshall would help anchor the unit and be an instant upgrade over the likes of Kelvin Sheppard, Koa Misi, and Jelani Jenkins.
And if green and white is more appealing to Marshall than aqua, orange, and white, he’d be welcomed with open arms in New York. Incumbent starter Demario Davis is supposedly unlikely to return to the Jets, meaning there’d be at least one vacant spot on Todd Bowles’ defense.
The only downside here, of course, would be the confusion of having two Brandon Marshalls on one team.