Dolphins Sign Marshall to $47 Million Deal

It was a busy day for the Miami Dolphins and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The Dolphins came to an agreement with the Denver Broncos which brought Marshall to Miami in exchange for a second round draft pick this year and a second round pick in 2011. Then this afternoon the Dolphins locked up Marshall for the next four years at $47.5 million, with $24 million of that in guaranteed money. The deal will make Marshall the highest paid wide receiver in the league, the previous high was the 2009 contract Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

The acquisition was a big one for the Dolphins, who had only 15 touchdowns in the passing game last year, and only six of those were by wide-outs. In contrast Marshall had 10 touchdowns on his own and 101 receptions in 2009. The trade was also a bit of a surprise because many believed that Marshall would wind up with the Seattle Seahawks after he visited them back in March.

There is little doubt that Marshall is one of the most talented wide receivers in NFL today, but there is also little doubt that Miami is taking a big chance signing him to such a large contract. Marshall has had some well publicized run ins with the law and was displeased with the Broncos brass the last couple of years over contract issues. Marshall was also suspended for one game last season for conduct detrimental to the team. All the baggage that comes along with Marshall makes you wonder why the Dolphins signed him to such a lucrative contract with so much guaranteed cash.

This deal will once again change the landscape of the AFC East division for 2010. The New York Jets earlier in the week made a big splash when they traded for another baggage laden wide receiver in Santonio Holmes. Add that to the Jets previous acquisitions of running back LaDainian Tomlinson and cornerback Antonio Cromartie and the division has a vastly different look to it. The Dolphins themselves made a big free agent splash in March when they made Karlos Dansby the highest paid inside linebacker in the league. The New England Patriots on the other hand have been very quiet so far, though that may change once the draft rolls around on Thursday, April 22. The Patriots have four draft picks in the first two rounds and 12 overall, which could mean a lot of action come draft day. While the Buffalo Bills are left at the bottom of the division, with little hope of improving.

At the end of the day one has to wonder if the Brandon Marshall deal will be a plus for years to come for the Miami Dolphins or will this be looked at as the day the Dolphins ignored a bunch of warning signs and in their desperation wasted a boatload of cash. Only time will truly tell, but I think the Dolphins may be going all in with only a pair of deuces, not a position I would want to be in.

Sources:

Adam Schefter, Marshall traded, agrees to 47.5 million deal, ESPN .com

Stats from Pro-FootballReference.com

Jade McCarthy, Flexibilty Could Be Patriots Biggest Advantage as Draft Day Looms, nesn.com