According to Kimberly Martin the Jets will be releasing wide receiver Brandon Marshall in the coming days.
Source: #Jets intend to release WR Brandon Marshall
— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) March 3, 2017
The move, which was expected given the Jets dismal season in 2016, will free up another $7.5 million in cap room which should give the Jets, based on my estimates about $33 million in cap room. Just a week or so ago the Jets were $8 million over the cap but they are building up cap room as they cut the veterans from their team. Thus far the Jets releases have included Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, Breno Giacomini, Nick Folk, Ryan Clady, and Erin Henderson. More releases should be expected. Marshall will not add any dead money to the Jets salary cap.
The Jets traded for Marshall in 2015 and he was an immediate hit for the Jets in his first season. He made a good target for Ryan Fitzpatrick as the Jets surprisingly had one of the better passing attacks in the NFL. The fortunes changes in 2016 as Fitzpatrick struggled and Marshall struggled with him. As long as Marshall is reasonable in his contract desires I would think he will get signed as part of the second wave of free agency by a team that believes it is a contender.
The wide receiver class will be interesting to watch unfold with a number of quality veterans hitting the market. Normally these players would not get top tier money but with the amount of cap space out there it might not be that surprising if Marshall, DeSean Jackson, and Pierre Garcon set some kind of new standard for the 30+ free agent.