Brandon Marshall to Arizona Cardinals could make sense
By Jim Koch
It would take some shrewd accounting to make it happen but the Arizona Cardinals should consider signing the veteran wideout
A position that just one year ago looked like a strength has taken a mighty tumble for the Arizona Cardinals. The wide receiving group is in need of some help. A recently released veteran could go a long way into providing it.
A recent roster purge by the New York Jets has made six-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall an unrestricted free agent. The 32-year old has let it be known that he wants to resurface with a contender. Could the Cardinals be on his short list?
He certainly would be a fit in the desert. He has the kind of size (6’4″, 230) the Cards now need. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald (6’3″, 218) may be entering the final phase of his illustrious career, and Michael Floyd (6’2″, 220) was released last season.
More from Raising Zona
- Arizona Cardinals: Could Eric Bieniemy come to the desert?
- Would Jonathan Gannon be a good fit for the Arizona Cardinals?
- Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker right in his take regarding the next coach
- Arizona Cardinals: 3 reasons new coach should want to work with Murray
- Arizona Cardinals special teams could be completely revamped in 2023
That has left the club with a couple of tiny pass-catchers (John Brown and J.J.Nelson), and a backup coming off of an ACL tear (Jaron Brown). The signing of Marshall would provide quarterback Carson Palmer with a nice, big target to throw to.
The biggest obstacle to it happening is obviously the money. Arizona currently doesn’t have much salary-cap space to work with, but next year it could be different. The impending retirements of Fitzgerald and Palmer alone could free up some significant cash. Would Marshall be willing to sign a slightly back-loaded deal to play for an organization that could win in ’17?
A three-year contract could be something that works for both parties. But the agreement would have to be structured around the lack of cap space Arizona has this year. It may take some keen salesmanship from General Manager Steve Keim to get Marshall to take a little less in the first year of the contract.
It’s obvious that Marshall would be a strong addition to the Cardinals. Whether it can be worked out monetarily or not is another story. But just imagine the rewards if it can.