Brandon Marshall Signs Two-Year, $12M Deal With Giants

Brandon Marshall is changing teams but not home stadiums.

Ex-Jet Brandon Marshall Signs Two-Year Deal With Giants

The former Jets wide receiver, who will be 33 later this month, and the New York Giants have reached an agreement on a two-year deal in a surprising move during the early free agency period.

The story was first reported by Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. 

According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth $12 million. Marshall was scheduled to earn $7.5 million with the Jets this year before his release last week.

Marshall, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos as a fourth-round pick out of UCF in 2006, tweeted a picture of his signed contract Wednesday morning:

With the deal, the Giants get a premier wideout with much durability remaining at a great market value.

The Giants will likely pair Marshall, a six-time Pro Bowler, with star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and fellow wideout Sterling Shepard, who impressed last season, his rookie campaign.

Marshall’s noteworthy strength should also help quarterback Eli Manning, who has historically had inconsistent passing performances.

The Giants were desperately seeking a wide receiver following the release of the injury-riddled Victor Cruz early in the offseason. The team also cut veteran running back Rashad Jennings the same day as Cruz, and franchise-tagged defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul this offseason to keep their strong defensive line intact.

Marshall, who played one season for the Jets after being traded from the Chicago Bears in 2015, was voted team MVP by the Jets that year as he set the franchise record for catches (109) and receiving yards (1,502) in a season. He also tied for the league lead with 14 receiving touchdowns. After that, Marshall suffered one of his worst seasons in 2016, managing only 59 catches, 788 yards and three touchdowns.

Undermined, in part, by poor quarterback play, his catch percentage (receptions/targets) was only 46.7 percent, 143rd among 144 qualifying players. Marshall also played for the Miami Dolphins.

Marshall has eight 1,000-yard seasons and his 25 receiving touchdowns since 2014 are among the most in the NFL. The only other time the Giants had two 1,000-yard receivers on the same squad— Hakeem Nicks and Cruz back in 2011— they won the Super Bowl.

The new league year begins Thursday (March 9).

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Brandon Marshall #15 of the New York Jets runs with the ball while playing the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)