After signing a contract that would likely allow Brandon Marshall to finish his career with the Chicago Bears, the wide receiver is suddenly seeing his future being put in a lot of doubt. With a new regime taking over in Chicago, cuts will be made and anyone with a high cap hit and low stats will be at risk. According to Marshall, he is at risk just as much as anyone to get cut, but he is denying the idea that he is seeking a trade in the offseason.
On March 12, Marshall's $7.5 million contract becomes guaranteed. If the Bears were to release the wide receiver prior to the March deadline, Chicago would save upwards of $3.95 million in salary cap space. At 30, that is a lot of money invested in a player and a nice chunk of change the Bears could use elsewhere. However, Marshall is making it clear that he has not asked for a trade from the team and fully intends on retiring with Chicago.
"I want to play for the Bears. I want to retire a Bear," Marshall said, via the Chicago Sun Times. "That's part of the business, but all of my communication with them has been nothing but positive. I can't listen to all of that. Like I said, I love Chicago and I think we have some special pieces here to be a successful team."
The Bears have Alshon Jeffery developing into a solid threat and could aim to draft a rookie to replace Marshall or potentially get another good name in free agency and structure their deal to be easier on the salary cap. The idea that Marshall would be cut for one bad season seems far-fetched, but the wide receiver also has been outspoken regarding his displeasure with the coaching staff that could make him an easy target going forward.
Matt Forte is the other player not safe from release in 2015. With a trade of Jay Cutler likely going unnoticed this season, the running back is the next available move. Forte is another heavy salary cap hit and while the veteran has not shown any signs of slowing down, he is not wanted on the pay roll. The Bears might not seek to immediately out-right release Forte, but could see if he is a trade option for another team.
The Bears offense could look very different in the coming seasons. With John Fox in at head coach the Bears might not keep some of their familiar stars and seek affordable options as they rebuild the unit.
