The Seattle Seahawks have tried to field a big wide receiver for years. None of their various projects have worked out, so now they’ve decided to roll the dice on veteran free agent Brandon Marshall.
Welcome to Seattle, @BMarshall! #GoHawks pic.twitter.com/m5MptR3P0n
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 30, 2018
Marshall is second in career receiving yards among active players after Larry Fitzgerald, so his signing is worth mentioning. However, there are still plenty of questions to be asked. Is Marshall done? Is there even a spot for him in Seattle? There are scenarios where he shines, but this is more than likely a situation to avoid.
Reasons to Get Excited
Fills a Need
Pete Carroll’s tall receiver projects with Seattle include Mike Williams, Reggie Williams, Sidney Rice, Braylon Edwards, Chris Matthews and Tanner McEvoy. None of those have worked out, but the Seahawks have obviously not stopped trying. With Jimmy Graham in Green Bay, Marshall can step in as Russell Wilson’s new favorite red zone target.
Improving Health
Marshall claims that the time off after the ankle injury he suffered with the Giants allowed him to become fully healthy. He had also struggled with a painful toe injury since 2015 but used the extra time to have that fixed as well. Now he is recovered from both surgeries and is “pain-free.” Marshall could be the healthiest he has been in years.
Career of Excellence
If you look at Marshall’s career, there aren’t many bad seasons mixed in with the good ones. He had 309 yards as a rookie and 154 yards in an injury-shortened 2017. In his other 10 seasons, he reached 1,000 yards eight times and 700 yards twice. He also had 10 or more touchdowns four times. In 2015, his 14 touchdowns were tied with Doug Baldwin and Allen Robinson for the most in the league. Given those numbers, it’s tempting to give Marshall the benefit of the doubt.
Reasons to Pump the Brakes
Declining Performance
Despite impressive career numbers, the fact remains that Marshall has seen his receptions, yards and touchdowns decline in each of the past three seasons. The fall from grace culminated in a disastrous year with the Giants that couldn’t have been much worse. If that trend continues, he won’t even be on the Seahawks for long, much less fantasy teams.
Age and Injury
Marshall is 34, entering his 13th season and coming off a season-ending injury. It’s not completely uncommon for players in his situation to succeed. For example, both Fitzgerald and Steve Smith have had recent success late in their careers. However, they are the exceptions that prove the rule. Most receivers in their 13th season or later don’t succeed.
May Get Cut
Marshall signed a team-friendly deal.
Brandon Marshall’s deal with Seattle:
Signing bonus: $90k
Base salary: $1.015M
Incentives:
40-49 rec: $75k
50-59 rec: $125k
60-69 rec: $250k
70+ rec: $350k
500-599 yards: $75k
600-699 yards: $125k
700-799 yards: $250k
800+ yards: $350k
7+ rec TD: $350k
Max value: $2.155M— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 31, 2018
Further, the Seahawks have plenty of receivers with a chance of making the team. Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett are in for sure. Amara Darboh and Jaron Brown are likely. Seattle liked David Moore enough that they waived Dwight Freeney to keep him. Keenan Reynolds, Cyril Grayson and Damore’ea Stringfellow are all intriguing. Not to mention Tanner McEvoy, who is entering his third year with the Seahawks, and Marcus Johnson, who was acquired in the Michael Bennett trade.
Even if Marshall does make the team, it’s unclear if he’ll be an every-down player. They may elect to only use him in the red zone, which will make him worthy of being on fantasy radars but very inconsistent. He would be a boom-bust play most weeks.
Conclusion
There isn’t a ton to like here, but that’s okay. Despite his name value, Marshall’s current ADP is WR60. If you can have him for next to nothing, what’s the harm in taking a chance? If he assumes the Jimmy Graham role, he’ll be worth having on a roster. Even if he gets cut in the preseason, the loss is negligible. There are crazier chances to take at the end of the draft.
