Reports: Jets to Trade for Brandon Marshall
The AFC East arms race isn’t slowing down any time soon.
The New York Jets have a trade agreement in place to acquire wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a draft pick, according to multiple media reports. Citing an unnamed source, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter first reported the deal and that it would be contingent on Marshall passing a physical.
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Marshall would bolster a Jets receiving corps that includes Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, and Percy Harvin, though it is unclear whether Harvin is in the Jets’ future plans, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting on Friday that the Jets are expected to release Harvin.
The 30-year-old has played for the Bears, Miami Dolphins, and Denver Broncos over his nine-year NFL career, catching 773 passes for 9,771 yards and 65 touchdowns. Marshall hauled in 61 targets for 721 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games in 2014; it was the first season since his rookie year that he didn’t eclipse 1,000 receiving yards.
The biggest question mark the Jets, however, seems to be the player who will be throwing passes to all of these wideouts. Geno Smith, the 39th overall selection of the 2013 NFL Draft, started 13 of the team’s games in 2014, but many NFL experts’ mock draft have thet Jets selecting Heisman Trophy-winning Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in the upcoming draft. In a mediocre sophomore season, Smith threw for 2,525 yards with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. With the Jets in an early-season tailspin, he was benched in favor of Michael Vick in late October before becoming the starter again a month later.
This reported move by the Jets comes after the Buffalo Bills made headlines with their own attempts at revamping their roster. The Bills announced the acquisition of former Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The team also reportedly has agreed to a blockbuster trade with the Philadlephia Eagles that would bring All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo.
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