The Chicago Bears continue to sort through what their commitment is to Brandon Marshall. The wide receiver signed a three-year contract extension with the team last year that was supposed to set him up for the remainder of his career. However, his high salary cap hit makes him a trade target under the new head coach and front office regime. With a trade market developing for the receiver, are the Bears taking steps to replace him?
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the Bears have brought in Brian Hartline for a workout on Wednesday. The wide receiver was just released by the Miami Dolphins and has been pretty popular since hitting the open market. The Dolphins cut Hartline due to his $5.9 million salary in 2015, not because of his production issues though 2014 was a low for him. The receiver only put up 474 yards after having back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons before that.
The interest in Hartline could be a hint at something to come. The Bears have reportedly been sniffing around at trades for Marshall, something the wide receiver understood was possible with a new coaching staff in place.
"I don't think anybody would be (comfortable) sitting in the gray, but this is the National Football League," Marshall said, via the Chicago Tribune. "This is our business. It's not a unique situation. It happens every single year. Like I said in the middle of the season, some players think that when you lose, oh, the coach is going to be gone. No, they move players, too. I get that and understand that."
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reports that Marshall is attracting attention on the trade market. Yes, his value has dipped thanks to injuries, but he is not a huge burden to pick up being due just $8 million this coming year. The Bears should not expect higher than a fourth round draft pick in return for the wide receiver, but that is better than nothing for the veteran.
The need to trade Marshall comes from the fact that Alshon Jeffery will need an extension in the coming year and the Bears might be aiming to get younger and faster on offense. New general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox are looking to put their mark on the roster and trading Marshall could be the first move. Jeffery has proven he is capable of being a star. The team could sign an affordable veteran like Hartline before acquiring someone in the draft.
