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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos have notified linebacker Brandon Marshall that they will not be exercising his contract option for 2019. The move will make Marshall a free agent in March.
The move will free up $5M in salary cap for the Broncos, but also a $4M dead money hit. Marshall, 29, came to the Broncos in 2013 from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad and became a full-time starter in 2014. He was an integral part of that 2015 defensive unit that catapulted the franchise to their third Super Bowl title.
While he was open to a contract restructuring that would keep him in Denver, the Broncos under Vic Fangio decided to go in another direction.
Much Love for Broncos country! Still not over yet, but being injured 2 out of the last 3 years after the Super Bowl killed me! But that’s life. I’ll land on my feet as I always do. ✊
— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh) February 15, 2019
As a free agent, Marshall is ready to focus on the future. The team told him that he has been a great Bronco, to which Marshall released a statement of appreciation for his time there.
“I love the organization, they gave me my first chance to play,” Marshall said. “I love all my teammates. I really love city. I felt embraced on and off the field. I’m just sorry I was injured 2 of the last 3 years.”
Marshall was one of four veteran Broncos players that have options. The other three, Chris Harris Jr., Derek Wolfe, and Emmanuel Sanders, all have options that must be picked up by March 13 or they will become free agents.