The New York Giants have few, if any, reasons to bring veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall back for the 2018 NFL regular season.
Former New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese surprised many fans when he largely ignored the team’s issues on the offensive line and, instead, built what was, on paper, an elite passing attack during the 2017 NFL offseason. Superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and potential future All-Pro Sterling Shepard were joined by rookie tight end Evan Engram and veteran Brandon Marshall, and the hope, at the time, was that they would come together to take Big Blue further than a one-and-done postseason appearance.
Of course, the experiment failed even before the first meaningful snap of the campaign. Both Beckham and Shepard suffered injuries in August, and the team’s line was as bad, if not worse, than advertised. By the time the middle of October arrived, both Beckham and Marshall were lost for the season, and the Giants were destined to finish near the basement of the standings and, ultimately, with the second overall pick of the upcoming draft and also a new head coach and new general manager guiding the club.
Head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman are tasked with making multiple needed roster decisions ahead of the draft, and Marshall’s name is on the list of potential cap casualties. Per Spotrac, the Giants could save a little over $5.15 million in cap space by showing Marshall the door the second the new NFL calendar opens. That currency is gold for a team in need of multiple roster shake-ups that is also on the verge of a rebuild that includes acquiring a new quarterback sooner rather than later.
One could easily argue the marriage between Marshall and the Giants was unfairly doomed before it officially began. An injury plague infected the locker room during the summer months, and then-head coach Ben McAdoo lost portions of the roster faster than some of you lose your remote between couch cushions on a football Sunday. As far as those of us on the outside looking in know, Marshall was never part of the problem.
That doesn’t mean he’s part of the solution. While Marshall, who (allegedly) became a polarizing figure among teammates while with the New York Jets, was never a distraction or negative personality inside MetLife Stadium’s blue locker room, he failed to click with two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. He caught 18 of 33 targets in five contests, and eight of those receptions occurred in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Marshall, who turns 34 years old in March, reeled-in 16 of 24 passes during his final 10 quarters of action, a sign that he possibly was finding his form and some momentum alongside Manning before ankle surgery added his name to the team’s injury list. While that’s unfortunate, one can’t turn the clock back and attempt to learn what might have been. Assuming he’d be ready and available for training camp sessions, Marshall essentially would be starting over in a new offense.
Per James Kratch of NJ Advance Media, Marshall wasn’t enthralled with the idea of slashing his pay to offer the Giants some cap help last December:
"“One, it’s not about the money for me. I’ve done well, my wife and I. We’ve done a great job. So it’s not about the money. I’m good for life. My kids are good for life. But I’m back to kind of like my beast, bullish Brandon Marshall ways,” he said.“The things you guys see, things that got me in trouble Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4. I’m back to that mentality. I want it all. It’s about respect, it’s about finishing strong. Although it’s not about the money, I’m approaching it, whatever is for me, I want it all. A $100,000 dollars, $500,000 dollars, a million dollars, whatever I’m worth, I want it all.”"
Matters, opinions and feelings often change with time. Perhaps Marshall will see the writing on the wall, realize those running the New York front office today never signed him to a contract, and choose to play ball and do whatever is necessary to remain on the roster and prove his worth to the offense during what could, realistically, be the final season of his career. Maybe he’ll try to earn one more payday via free agency. It’s too early to say.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full two-round projection
The Giants will need veteran presences in 2018, but those players must contribute more than team talks and leadership qualities during midweek preparations and workouts. Logic suggests the club could get similar, and possibly even better, numbers out of a younger product on a more team-friendly contract than what Marshall could offer.
In short, Marshall needs to fall on his sword and work with the Giants if he wants to stay for the start of training camp. Marshall signing a one-year deal that includes incentives he must hit if he wants to be paid handsomely would show he’s all-in the cause. If he’s unwilling to agree to those terms, he should be the team’s first cap casualty of March.