Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan.
It sure seems like a lot of wide receivers are swapping teams lately. In what had been a fairly quiet NFL offseason until the last two weeks (unless you’re Shaun Rogers), a flurry of trades has completely rearranged many draft preconceptions. What was once believed to be a draft with just a handful of receivers, who were therefore certain to achieve larger chunks of the receiver money in the draft, has turned into a draft where team needs for receivers are being addressed through trades and free agency. First Anquan Boldin is traded, then Santonio Holmes, and now perhaps the most talented receiver in the NFL (whose name is not Larry Fitzgerald), Brandon Marshall, is traded to the Miami Dolphins.
That Marshall trade, of course, means that San Francisco traded for the now marginalized Ted Ginn, Jr. to fill the speedster spot opposite Michael Crabtree. More teams with wide receiver needs are set now – and are set well before the draft begins. And that is due, in part, to the trade for Brandon Marshall and the events it set off.
You may be surprised to learn that Marshall had the framework for a deal in place with two other teams before deciding to push for a trade to Miami – the city where he could get the best deal. Seattle, in particular, would have been an interesting fit. The fact that no less than three teams had active contract extension conversations with Marshall’s camp – prior to a trade framework being solidly in place – speaks to his market demand. Brandon Marshall is the one receiver in the NFL right now that can take over a game, break tackles, and put up multiple scores. But while three teams wanted him, and one got him, that makes one less team that needs to draft a wide receiver.
While some speculation has Marshall’s new contract as good enough to make him the highest paid receiver in the NFL, he is not quite there yet. However, his combination of talent and youth make him legitimately sought after. Though his attitude often receives criticism, both he and his former coach have nice things to say about each other publically. Marshall is an above average talent that takes a Miami team from borderline on offense to great.
Marshall’s stats are, of course, not the most important thing about him. But, they do help provide some clarity to why his trade makes such a significant impact in the NFL, in Miami’s division, and for what the Broncos are now missing (and for what the Dolphins are gaining). In the past three seasons, Marshall has snagged at least 100 catches and gone over 1,100 yards with relative ease (read: even if he misses games due to injury). He had a game last season where he caught 20 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. And that was playing with Kyle Orton. What is interesting, however, is that the Broncos do not seem intent on filling their new wide receiver needs in through the draft.
This trade changed the Dolphins’ entire draft philosophy. Once weak at receiver, they were able to become strong there and use draft picks to beef areas of great need in the defensive secondary and along the offensive line. As we all know, the NFL offseason is about eliminating weaknesses, and the Dolphins now have the flexibility to eliminate several and thrust themselves into contention in a very strong division. The trade makes the AFC East one of the overall strongest in football (except for you, Bills).
No other position has seen so much trade activity in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. Therefore, the biggest move in the most active trade marketing must also be the biggest pre-draft move. It’s only logical.
