Eli Manning and the New York Giants now have two legitimate threats on the outside.
The Giants found a complement to Odell Beckham Jr. on Wednesday by signing veteran free-agent receiver Brandon Marshall to a two-year, $12 million contact.
Marshall said the Giants’ offer might have been the lowest that he got after being released by the Jets last week.
However, Ben McAdoo’s team, which made the playoffs with an 11-5 record last season, offered him something else.
“It was all about championships,” said Marshall, who has never made the playoffs since being drafted in the first round by Denver in 2006. “To get straight to the point — it was all about a championship, they presented the best opportunity to be in a championship organization.”
Marshall offers the Giants a lot. He is a big target at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, and he has been productive. In 167 regular-season games with Denver, Miami, Chicago and the Jets, he has caught 941 passes for 12,061 yards and 82 touchdowns.
The soon-to-be 33-year-old had 59 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns last season.
“Brandon is a big, talented wide receiver who we believe can still play at a very high level,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “But, most of all, we believe he still has the hunger.”
Marshall said Reese texted him Sunday but he didn’t see the message until later in the day. Once the sides met, it didn’t take long for things to come together.
Manning and Marshall have already spoken and the two hope to work in April. He has already been impressed by how much Manning prepares.
“That’s the thing that I’m most excited about it, because that’s where you win games,” Marshall said. “Obviously, there’s a physical part to it; but the teams that really separate themselves are the teams that win before they even play the game. I can’t wait to just follow him and get to learn from him and get this job done.”
Marshall said he has gotten to know Beckham over the past two years.
“This kid isn’t even in his prime yet and he’s a monster,” Marshall said. “I can’t wait to be a part of this journey, this maturation process that he’s on.”
The Giants used Victor Cruz on the outside last season. He had 39 catches for 586 yards but he is really more of a slot receiver, a spot the Giants gave to rookie Sterling Shepard. He was recently released in a salary cap move.
Despite being double-teamed in most games, Beckham led the team with 101 catches for 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns. In three seasons, he has 288 catches for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns.
“I just love the guy to death,” Marshall said about Beckham. “He’s the biggest star in the NFL, between Antonio Brown and Julio Jones, it’s a toss-up of who is the best receiver in the league and I’m excited about that. I love his passion, I love his approach to the game, and I’m just happy I can be on the other side of him to pull coverage and make his job easier.”
TOM CANAVAN
