The Broncos will not pick up Brandon Marshall’s contract option for the 2019 season, KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis reported Friday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that the linebacker would “most likely” not be brought back.
Marshall has a $1 million option in his contract that will become guaranteed when the new league year begins in March. By not exercising his option, Denver is allowing the linebacker to become an unrestricted free agent.
Marshall, 29, was set to earn a base salary of $6.5 million this season and $7 million in 2020. The Broncos will have “dead money” cap hits of $4 million this year and $2 million next year but the team will have a net salary cap savings of $12.5 million over the next two years.
Marshall entered the league as a fifth-round pick out of Nevada with the Jaguars in 2012. He lasted just one year in Jacksonville before joining Denver’s practice squad in 2013. In 2014, Marshall won a starting job, a position he held (when healthy) through the 2018 season.
Marshall helped the Broncos reach two Super Bowls during his time with the team and started in a Super Bowl 50 victory. He recorded 417 tackles and 6.5 sacks from 2013-18.
After signing Todd Davis to a three-year, $15 million extension and selecting Josey Jewell in the fourth round of last year’s draft, Denver’s front office sent a clear message that the team was preparing for life without Marshall. The Broncos will likely add more depth at linebacker in April’s draft.
Marshall has said multiple times this offseason that he would be willing to restructure his contract to stay with the team. Klis has reported that Denver has not ruled out re-signing him on a cheaper contract.
