Brandon Marshall is good temporary solution for the Seahawks
Brandon Marshall isn’t going to rediscover his Pro Bowl form in Seattle, but he can help the Seahawks receiving corps for one season.
The Seattle Seahawks were poised to enter the 2018 NFL season with a pretty big hole at one wide receiver position. The signing of Brandon Marshall will allow Pete Carroll to fill the gap for one season. He still has enough gas in the tank to serve as a valuable security blanket for Russell Wilson.
Before making the decision to sign Marshall, Seattle was poised to start Marcus Johnson on the right side of their formation. The second year receiver has some talent, but he only managed five catches in 10 games for the Eagles last season. Johnson clearly isn’t ready to be a starter for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
The signing of Marshall will give Johnson a chance to develop on a more relaxed timeline. This year likely serves as Marshall’s last chance to make a meaningful impact in the league. If he’s productive for the Seahawks he can probably find one more contract, if not, it may be time for him to hang up his cleats.
That motivation should work solidly in the Seahawks favor. Pete Carroll is still a masterful motivator. If anyone can keep Marshall focused on a week-to-week basis it’s Carroll. Having his career potentially hanging in the balance should also help keep Marshall motivated.
If he’s motivated and healthy, there’s no reason to think he can’t serve a real purpose for the Seahawks offense. He’s just three years removed from a 109 catch season with the Jets. Seattle doesn’t need him to be nearly that productive. All they want from him is to be a steady target for Wilson on short patterns.
That’s always been where Marshall is at his best. He thrives when he has the opportunity to make catches in tight space. Wilson is one of the most accurate passers in the NFL. It’s easy to see how they might be able to develop serious chemistry.
The presence of Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett running patterns deep down the field will also give Marshall room to operate. He should really be able to take advantage of underneath routes while they’re occupying safeties down the field.
Signing Marshall also alleviates concerns about Seattle’s lack of a top flight tight end. Jimmy Graham wasn’t great last season, but he did catch 57 passes. Marshall will take some pressure off of Nick Vannett to replace Graham’s production.
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Handing a big multiyear deal to Brandon Marshall would have been a mistake for the Seahawks. Instead, they’ve given him a one year deal to keep the pressure on him to produce. That gives Seattle a great opportunity to recoup serious value on a pretty minimal investment.