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| Christopher Reina. 14th April, 2010 - 10:51 am
 In the span of one year, the Broncos have traded a supremely talented young quarterback in Jay Cutler and a supremely talented young wide receiver in Brandon Marshall. It is a strategy that wouldn't work in the NBA, but the Broncos are clearly building their team through the strength of their depth and they will now have the 43rd overall pick next Thursday and also an additional second rounder in 2011 from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Marshall.
With these two deals, Brian Xanders and Josh McDaniels have turned two established players at skill positions into Kyle Orton, Robert Ayers (Chicago's 2009 pick), the 11th overall pick this Thursday, Seth Olsen (Denver converted their own second rounder and Chicago's fourth into two thirds from Pittsburgh in 2009), plus the two second rounders from the Dolphins.
Orton turned out to be perfectly adequate in 2009 and they have also added Brady Quinn to the quarterback depth chart. Neither Ayers and Olsen were spectacular as rookies, but they should be able to hit at least one homer with the 11th and 43rd, no matter what they decide to do with the picks.
Considering what the Steelers just received for Santonio Holmes, Denver's haul of two second rounders looks like the Louisiana Purchase. Marshall was initially suspended for three games in 2008, but it was eventually reduced to just one game. Then, he was suspended for the final two preseason games of 2009 by the Broncos. He has consistently had legal troubles throughout his entire tenure with Denver and also had problems at Central Florida and as is always the case with star athletes, there is unquestionably more that goes undocumented.
But on the field, Marshall has consistently been excellent.
Marshall was ranked 10th amongst wide receivers in season FIC for 2009. Marshall had over 1,100 yards and 100 receptions for the third consecutive season despite the change at quarterback from Jay Cutler to Kyle Orton. Marshall is the only wide receiver with at least 100 receptions in his second, third and fourth season in the NFL.
He is the epitome of a playmaker with his ability to break tackles with his strength, which is also utilized heavily as a willing downfield blocker.
Like the 26-year-old Marshall, there are several highly talented receivers who are 27 or younger, including Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Sidney Rice, Holmes, DeSean Jackson, Vincent Jackson, Greg Jennings, Steve Smith, Marques Colston and Miles Austin. While I would probably rank Marshall third behind Fitzgerald and Johnson in terms of pure talent and ability, the fact that I didn't even mention Dwayne Bowe, Hakeem Nicks and Percy Harvin in that list speaks to the young depth the NFL now has at receiver and that means we must reduce what Marshall's value would otherwise be if looked at in a vacuum.
Grade for Broncos: A
While the trade price of two second round picks, as well as a new contract is a very steep price, the Dolphins are now set at wide receiver for the next seven-plus seasons. Davone Bess will slide in as a solid number two and Greg Camarillo as a third weapon, which will make stopping Miami's excellent run game (fourth in total rushing yards, 10th in average) all the more difficult. Defenses will be unable to stack the box because Chad Henne will upgrade from Ted Ginn to Marshall with the trickle down effect helping Bess and Camarillo.
Ginn is almost certain to be dealt, ending his tenure with a Miami team that selected him ninth overall over two of the best young defensive players in the game in Patrick Willis (11th) and Darrelle Revis (14th).
Grade for Dolphins: B
We have to add Seattle as an accessory to this trade because of their strong interest in Marshall. They were unable to make an offer that could beat Miami's since they had already sent the 40th overall pick to San Diego for Charlie Whitehurst. I know Marshall is one of the game's most talented receivers, but nobody knows what kind of NFL QB Whitehurst can become. The price tag of that trade went from 'already shockingly expensive' to 'shockingly expensive with we could have had an in his prime elite receiver instead'.
The Seahawks have the 6th and 14th overall picks in the 2010 Draft, as well as the 60th, with one of those almost certain to be used on a receiver.
Grade for Seahawks: C+
Chris Reina is the executive editor of RealGM. Click here to follow his Twitter feed. |
