It's no secret that the Chicago Bears are weighing the future of wide receiver Brandon Marshall. First-year general manager Ryan Pace and new head coach John Fox are evaluating the entire roster, which means no one individual is safe, especially after a 5-11 season.
"We'll continue to evaluate the total package," Fox said when prompted about Marshall. "And if we deem that he can help us win, all the above will be part of that evaluation."
Marshall is coming off his least productive season since his rookie year. Nagging ankle issues restricted him to just 61 receptions for 721 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games. With his 31st birthday approaching, Chicago brass is likely debating if a sharp decline is on the horizon for Marshall.
Even if it isn't and Marshall's sub-par season can be chalked up to injury woes, the sheer depth and talent of this year's wide receiver draft class may make the veteran pass-catcher expendable in Chicago's view. Pace and Fox's job is to construct a roster that is both talented and cost-effective. They could be thinking, "Why spend $7.5 million at the position when you can spend a third of that?"
"It's pretty darn deep, the wide-receiver group," Carolina Panthers GM Dave Gettleman said. "All shapes and sizes, whatever you're looking for, you should be able to find - and you're going to get value."
Some wide receivers that could be available when the Bears pick at No. 7 include Louisville's DeVante Parker, West Virginia's Kevin White and Missouri's Dorial Green-Beckham. All three are talented and had good showings at the NFL combine.
It will be hard for the Bears to part ways with Marshall though. In 45 games with the team over three seasons, Marshall has hauled in 279 receptions for 3,524 yards and 31 touchdowns. He has 15 100-yard receiving games in that span.
But with a new regime calling the shots and a roster riddled with holes, could the Bears decide that they're better off opting for a less expensive and younger option? It's possible. Is that the correct course of action to take? Who knows...
