Money was a factor, but allowing Brandon Marshall to become an unrestricted free agent wasn’t just a business decision for the Broncos. Yes, the team will save about $12.5 million in salary cap space over the next two years, but that wasn’t the only reason why Denver was willing to move on from the veteran linebacker.
The Broncos have faith in second-year linebacker Josey Jewell, who was selected by Denver in the fourth round of last year’s NFL draft out of Iowa. When Marshall was sidelined by injuries last season, Jewell was thrust into the starting lineup and he didn’t look out of place.
As a rookie, Jewell recorded 58 tackles and broke up three passes in 16 games (nine starts). Jewell gained the confidence of the Broncos’ coaching staff and held on to the starting job even after Marshall returned from injury.
Even though he likely knew the rookie could be his eventual replacement, Marshall helped coach up Jewell last season.
“Todd [Davis] and B-Marsh were some great leaders that had been here for a while,” Jewell said on Dec. 31 last year. “They have experienced a lot of things. They’ve seen the ups and the downs. I think they just taught us every day to compete and go out there. Don’t take any days off because you’re going to definitely regret them.
“Nobody likes to see a guy that doesn’t go 100 percent all the time — none of the coaches, none of the people upstairs here. I think it’s just the fact of the matter of just giving it your all every day. You never want to look and say, ‘I wish I would’ve done this or that.”
Now approaching his second year in the league, Jewell is poised to remain one of the team’s starting inside linebackers. Jewell is under contract for three more years and will earn a base salary of $570,000 this season, $5.93 million less than what Marshall would have earned.
