Brandon Marshall knew he wasn't returning to the Broncos. His elevated salary and decreased playing time made free agency the likely option this offseason. Thursday, he found a new home, telling Denver7 he has agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.1 million with the Oakland Raiders.
Marshall visited Oakland on Thursday. He admitted that they had shown the most interest along with Arizona. In the end, Oakland fit in the short term, and possibly in the long view. That would be ideal for Marshall, a former Las Vegas prep star, who would love to introduce the Raiders to his hometown. For now, he remains focused on rebooting his career after battling injuries the past few seasons.
"Denver!! It’s been a beautiful 6 years. A lot of ups, and downs. But more importantly, we brought a championship to the city! I’ll always Love Denver it’s where I received my first opportunity to show that I could play. And I’ll always Love and cherish all of the relationships I’ve built! Thank you for being good to me, as I’ve always given you my heart and been good to you. Much Love, B.Marsh," Marshall posted on his Instagram.
Marshall lived a remarkable journey in Denver. Plucked off Jacksonville's practice squad, he worked his way into Denver's starting lineup after making multiple plays against quarterback Peyton Manning's offense in practice. He started and played a pivotal role in the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 victory. Marshall posted 100-plus tackles i three of the last five seasons even as he battled through foot, hamstring and knee injuries.
Last season, Marshall suffered a bone bruise in his knee. It cost him playing time to rookie Josey Jewell. With Marshall due to make $6.5 million, the Broncos moved on. They are likely to add an inside linebacker in the draft.
