The Chicago Bears didn’t waste anytime making headlines after the kickoff of free agency started. Per Jay Glazer, the Bears have traded two third-round picks to the Dolphins for WR Brandon Marshall. One pick from the 2012 draft and one from 2013. The move not only gives the Bears receiving corps a jolt of talent, but reunites QB Jay Cutler with Marshall, who were teammates in Denver from 2006-2008.
While the trade obviously helps the Bears, it leaves me wondering what the Dolphins plan on doing with their offense, considering Marshall was the only true receiving threat they had last year. For now, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, and Clyde Gates are the team’s top three receivers. Those three players make the trade look that much better on Chicago’s side.
Could the move pave the way for Vincent Jackson to make his new home in Miami? It might. Signing Vincent Jackson and gaining two extra picks is a strong way to start the 2012 offseason. But with no legitimate threat to throw to for the time being, it’s going to be hard for the Dolphins to make a strong pitch to Peyton Manning, who was reportedly losing interest even before the Marshall trade. Not having a true No. 1 receiver is going to make the chances of Peyton signing in South Beach that much more challenging.
As for the fantasy football side of things, Cutler, in my opinion, moves up to a low-end QB1 now that he has a familiar face to throw to. Marshall becomes a borderline WR1, but I would feel comfortable taking him as a WR2. The running game and Matt Forte gets a boost now that defenses have to look out and pay more attention to the passing game.
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