The Broncos didn’t have long to celebrate their Super Bowl title before discussion turned to whether they’d be able to keep key members of their defense once free agency arrives.
Von Miller, Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan are all on track to become unrestricted free agents and their futures have generated the most discussion in the last few days. Brandon Marshall, Trevathan’s partner at inside linebacker, isn’t on the same track as his teammates.
Marshall is set to become a restricted free agent and said Friday that he’d like to both remain with the Broncos and see a bump in his bank account in 2016.
“I would definitely love my bank account to grow in these next few months - I would love that,” Marshall said on NFL Network. “Me and my agent have been talking, we’ll see what happens. But I would love to stay in Denver. I grew up a Broncos fan. I love the Broncos. I love the organization and community, so I’d love to stay in Denver. We’ll definitely see what happens.”
If the Broncos don’t sign Marshall to a new contract in the near future, they’ll certainly be using a restricted free agent tender to ensure that Marshall doesn’t leave without having a chance to match another offer or getting draft pick compensation if they choose not to meet the price.
Given how well Marshall, a 2012 fifth-round pick of the Jaguars, played in 2015, a first- or second-round tender seems more likely than the original round number and the way things fall with the unrestricted free agents will likely determine whether the Broncos try to do more than that with Marshall this offseason.