New England Patriots Rumors: Team Has Interest in Ex-Jet Brandon Marshall

The New England Patriots and free agent Brandon Marshall are reported to have “mutual interest” in the wide receiver playing in Foxboro next season.

Forget Michael Floyd, the New England Patriots may have their eyes set on wide receiver Brandon Marshall. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, there is “mutual interest’ between the veteran playmaker and the Super Bowl champions.

Marshall, who was released from the New York Jets on Friday, has previously expressed interest in playing with Tom Brady and the Patriots. His interest is not surprising, but what about the Patriots? The team appears set as far as depth goes, but an outside threat like Marshall is what the team has been searching for the past couple of season.

And two, don’t rule out Brandon Marshall coming to New England. There’s some mutual interest there
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) March 4, 2017

Back in 2015, before joining the Jets, Marshall said in an interview with ESPN Radio that he could’ve been traded from Chicago to New England. Of course, back then, there were constant rumors swirling around him joining the Patriots. Now, the Patriots might be able at get him at a cheaper price while at the same time add a big receiver they haven’t really had since the days of Randy Moss.

Would a player like Marshall accept a one-year type deal like Chris Long did a season ago? If he has the hunger to win and play for a championship, the chances are high that he would. He said as much back in December before the Patriots 41-3 thumping of the Jets.

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Although he admitted he would be a “rental player,” Marshall told New York Daily News columnist Manish Mehta that the idea of playing for a winning organization like the New England Patriots is “intriguing.

While Brandon Marshall also emphasized that he wanted to be “a big part of the puzzle” and not just a rental player, he may not have much of a choice at the age of 32. Anything more than a two-year deal might not be a chance the Patriots are willing to take. Then again, the team did bring in older veteran receivers like Chad Johnson and recently Reggie Wayne, so maybe the team is willing to sign Marshall to a longer deal if the price is right.

With all the upside Marshall could bring to the Patriots’ offense, especially playing with Tom Brady, the downside is he could take some playing time away from Malcolm Mitchell. His addition could also affect Danny Amendola’s situation.

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In all, the Patriots possibly adding a big outside threat like Marshall who caught 59 passes for 788 yards a season ago has to have the rest of the NFL shuttering.

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