3. Brandon Marshall, wide receiver, New York Giants
Contract: two-years, $11 million
Marshall was set to earn $7.5 million from the Jets prior to the team deciding to release him. He now remains in the same city, playing at an average annual salary of $5.5 million. The deal also pays him just $5 million guaranteed with a signing bonus of $2 million split over two seasons. If the Giants were to move on from Marshall following the 2017 season, they would then only be on the hook for a $1 million dead cap hit.
That’s a major steal for a team that now has two No. 1 caliber receivers in the form of Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr. Despite putting up a less-than-stellar 788 receiving yards for the Jets last season, there’s every reason to believe Marshall will return to earlier-career form with a better quarterback situation on the Giants.
Simply put, the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith and Bryce Petty were downright horrible for the Jets in 2016. That’s the primary reason Marshall struggled form a statistical standpoint. Remember, he’s just one year removed from putting up 109 receptions for 1,502 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns.
Opposing NFC East defenses will now have to account for potentially the best trio of wide receivers in the game. Marshall’s presence means Sterling Shepard will move inside with Marshall and OBJ flanking him on the outside. That’s just scary.