With rumors swirling concerning where Broncos wide receiver and restricted free agent Brandon Marshall will wind up, don’t expect Cincinnati to be a potential suitor. According to Joe Reedy of Cincinnati.com, the Bengals won’t make a move for Marshall because (a) they’ll need to give up a draft pick and (b) Marshall has off-field problems too severe for the team to justify giving up a first round draft pick.
Speaking of Marshall, the Bears are very interested according to reports. Keep in mind, however, that Chicago would need to negotiate another trade with the Broncos to get him. They gave up their 2010 first round draft pick in last year’s infamous Cutler trade, so they can’t sign any restricted free agents with a first round tender. That said, don’t rule them out as a possibility. Reuniting Marshall with Cutler might be just what the team needs to reinvigorate the offense and get things rolling.
Also, one last potential suitor: the Washington Redskins desperately need to upgrade their offense. Mike Shanahan and Brandon Marshall get along fine, and Shanny might want to make a move to get Jason Campbell (or another quarterback, depending on how free agency plays out) a big target with huge production potential.
But, at the end of the day, the most likely home for Marshall is still Denver. Josh McDaniels has publicly said there are no barriers to bringing him back, and if the Broncos lose Marshall, their wide receiver corps weakens significantly. Not good news for an offense that struggled at times to move the ball last season.