The National Football League already has approximately 500 players slated to hit free agency in an unrestricted or restricted capacity. By weeks end, it will have at least two more in all likelihood with the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs getting ready to move on from Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Bowe, respectively, per Brad Biggs and Ian Rapoport.
Chicago is in full rebuild mode after firing head coach Marc Trestman following an embarrassing 5-11 campaign. With new general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox running the show, changes are coming and Marshall will be one of the first. Marshall, 30, is still a highly productive receiver but he also owns a cap hit of $9.575 million in 2015 before making $10.375 million in 2016.
By releasing Marshall, the Bears stand to save $6.325 million this year, a sizable amount which can be used to fortify one of the league’s worst defenses. With the emergence of Alshon Jeffery, Chicago can’t afford to keep such an expensive second receiver with so many holes on the roster. The Bears are trying to trade Marshall before simply cutting him, but their efforts are going to come up empty barring a miracle. Teams are aware of Chicago’s plan, and will simply wait for Marshall to hit the market so they can sign him at a lesser price.
The same can be said for Kansas City and Bowe. The Chiefs are hoping to unload Bowe onto another team, perhaps getting a late-round pick in return. However, general manager John Dorsey is surely resigned to the fact that Bowe will be cut sometime between now and March 10, the beginning of the new league year and free agency.
Bowe, 30, signed a five-year, $56 million deal before the 2013 season and has never come close to living up to it. Over the past two seasons with Alex Smith at the helm, Bowe has amassed a total of 117 catches and 1,427 yards with five touchdowns, all coming in 2013. Last year, Bowe led a receiving core that went without a touchdown all season, the first time that has happened since 1950.
By releasing Bowe, the Chiefs will gain $5 million in cap space while taking a brutal $9 million hit in dead money. Kansas City does have the option of making Bowe a post-June 1 designated cut, which would save them $11 million and roll $6 million of dead money into 2016 (with $3 million dead this year). However, the cash-strapped Chiefs would not get cap relief from the cut until June 1. Currently, Kansas City is $5.8 million over the cap but has multiple ways of clearing significant room.
Bowe and Marshall will not break the bank in free agency, especially with Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin on the market. It is a buyers market for receivers this year, meaning each will likely get a deal somewhere in the 2-3 year range for $6 million on average, with perhaps half guaranteed.
Both represent a chance to pick up a veteran with a few good years remaining at an advantageous price.
