The New York Jets surprised the league this week when news broke that they plan to release playmaking receiver Brandon Marshall. The Jets appear to be retooling their offense and the veteran wide-out (and his veteran salary) are no longer needed in New York. So the natural question for every Detroit Lions fan is: Does Brandon Marshall fit in Detroit.
Knee Jerk Reaction
My initial knee jerk reaction to this was no. Although Marshall has a history of being a game-changing playmaker, his age, history of off-the-field issues and recent injury give me pause. Not to mention the cap gobbling salary he will command after instantly becoming one of the biggest names on the free agent market. The Lions have needs on the offensive and defensive lines that will require some cap space. Adding another big salary for an aging veteran on the offense is problematic.
Upon Further Review
After my initially rejecting the idea of Brandon Marshall wearing the Honolulu Blue, I dug a little deeper. There are plenty of compelling reasons for adding Marshall to the roster in 2017. There are also several competitive reasons to find space for him on the Lions depth chart.
Veteran Presence
Marshall won’t burn up the sideline anymore but he can find space. Most importantly he can catch the ball. Matt Stafford benefited greatly from Anquan Boldin during their winning streak last season. The sure handed Boldin had some key catches last season and became Stafford’s favorite target in the clutch. Marshall could provide the same type of presence on the field and is clearly an upgrade over Boldin.
Defensive Signing
Signing Brandon Marshall could also prevent him from lining up against the Lions next season. Marshall is said to already be getting interest from contenders like Dallas, Patriots, Green Bay and Baltimore. Signing him could simultaneously improve the offense and downgrade one of the teams the Lions will have to defeat to earn their first Super Bowl championship.
If its good for the Ravens…
During combine coverage, former Raven wideout Steve Smith said he thought Brandon Marshall would be a good fit for his former team.
"“I think (Marshall) would be a good fit,” Smith told the Ravens‘ website. “Actually, me and B. Marshall talked last week and he kind of gave me a heads up on some things.“I think he would be a great fit because he’s a playmaker. At the end of the day, you need playmakers. You need a lot of horses in the stable and you can never have too many playmakers on one team or one side of the ball.” – Steve Smith via NFL.com and NFL Network"
If Brandon Marshall could help the Ravens; why not the Lions? The Ravens and Lions are similar teams. Both have solid quarterbacks and inconsistent receiving corps. Both could benefit from a sure-handed veteran they can count on to catch the ball when it counts.
What say you Lions fans? Do you think Marshall is a good fit for the Lions?