Brandon

Marshall

The longtime Broncos linebacker hasn’t played a snap since 2018 with Denver. He inked a one-year deal with the Raiders ahead of 2019 but was among the team’s final cuts and never was able to find the field anywhere the past two seasons. Marshall will be 32 in September.

The Raiders are the only team that has been linked to Marshall since his release over two weeks ago. Marshall is entering his age-30 season and has been bogged down by injuries in recent seasons. Still, the last time he was fully healthy, Marshall proved to be a difference maker as an off-ball linebacker. Even after signing Vontaze Burfict, the Raiders still appear to have a need at linebacker.

Marshall, 30 in two weeks, signed a one-year deal with the Raiders in March. He was guaranteed $350,000 at signing, but the Raiders clear $1 million in cap space with the move. Ever since injuries struck Marshall in Denver, his game has slipped at a rapid rate. He can’t cover in the pass game anymore. Marshall doesn’t figure to be greeted with a welcoming market.

Marshall’s knee issues cost him five games last season. He’s healthy now and will get in a full offseason. Despite trending down the past few years, the Raiders are counting on Marshall for significant snaps.

Per PFT’s Mike Florio, the deal is worth “up to” $4.1 million. Injuries made 29-year-old Marshall’s prime fairly short, but he is still capable of making plays as an off-ball linebacker. Any additional play-making ability is welcome for a Raiders defense that was essentially talent-less in 2018. If healthy — Marshall has missed 10 games over the past three years — he could play a lot of snaps for coach Jon Gruden.

The Raiders are shorthanded at linebacker, something coach Jon Gruden was grousing about on Tuesday. Marshall was let go by the team at final cuts. Now on the wrong side of 30, Marshall is no longer the versatile, play-making weapon he was during his Broncos heyday. He’s being signed to gobble up snaps and do little else.

Marshall was just re-signed last week. The Raiders activated Isaiah Johnson from the injured reserve list in a corresponding roster move.

Signed to a one-year deal by the Raiders earlier this offseason following his release from the Broncos, Marshall was cut over the weekend. The soon-to-be 30-year-old (next week) claims he’s healthy. He’s no longer a difference-maker.

The Raiders could use some help at linebacker and are apparently sorting through the veteran options -- Vontaze Burfict is headed to visit Oakland on Tuesday. Marshall has struggled with injuries the last few seasons, but he is a still a solid coverage linebacker.

Per Anderson, as many as five teams are already interested, but we would assume that number is agent-inflated. No longer the force he briefly was during the Broncos’ Super Bowl window, Marshall has struggled with injury over the past three years. He does still have a versatile overall skill-set that should earn him some guaranteed money on the open market.