Oakland Raiders: What does the release of Brandon Marshall mean for the team?

The Oakland Raiders have officially released veteran linebacker Brandon Marshall ahead of roster cuts. Here is what that move means for the team going forward.

The Oakland Raiders have seemingly gotten a head start on the roster cut-down period as they have reportedly come to terms on the release of veteran linebacker Brandon Marshall.

Marshall was signed by the Raiders in the offseason after spending the last six seasons playing for their AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos. And over the last five years, he served as a reliable off-ball linebacker excelling in both run defense and pass coverage.

Originally selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Marshall’s career in Jacksonville would be short as he played just five games for the team before being released the following August.

The Broncos would give the young linebacker a chance on their practice squad and he eventually worked his way up to their starting lineup — a role he would hold down for five seasons.

But with the veteran turning 30-years-old in September, the Broncos deemed that it was time to move on and declined to pick up his option. Oakland took a chance on the aging linebacker who had run into his share of injury troubles over the past few years.

And going into training camp, Marshall was expected to be the starter on the weak-side in a trio of veteran linebackers. Last season’s holdover, Tahir Whitehead, is the anticipated starter in the middle of the defense with Cincinnati Bengals castoff Vontaze Burfict joining the fray.

But with a number of younger linebackers on the roster that the team was trying to develop, it was clear that the veterans weren’t just going to be handed the jobs. And that goes double for Marshall who took a back-seat role in Denver’s defense last season.

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And after an injury-riddled preseason filled with up-and-down play, the Raiders clearly felt comfortable moving on from the veteran in favor of their younger talent.

In all likelihood, 24-year-old linebacker Nicholas Morrow appears to be next-in-line to start on the weak side. Originally an undrafted free agent back in 2017, Morrow has played in all 32 games over the last two seasons, making 10 starts in the process.

Morrow has shown promise with his pass coverage and the athletic linebacker could be asked to play a good amount in the nickel package as one of the team’s two linebackers.

We could also see some more of 2017 fifth-rounder Marquel Lee who was given an extensive look as a starter last season. While Lee hasn’t shown as much promise as Morrow, he could still be a solid starter in the team’s base 4-3 defense.

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Regardless, releasing Marshall allows the Raiders to retain a lot of their young linebacker depth. Morrow and Lee were widely expected to make the team, but Marshall’s release allows the team to keep other key special teams contributors such as Jason Cabinda and Kyle Wilber.

Perhaps the Raiders could also look to explore the trade market to acquire another starting linebacker. A player like Miami’s Kiko Alonso could make sense if the team wants to acquire another three-down linebacker that’s capable in pass coverage.

Still, the team could be better off giving Morrow the opportunity to develop while playing him alongside the veterans.

Unfortunately, Marshall just wasn’t a part of the plans and his dream of playing in his home city of Las Vegas next year appear to be all but over.

But such is life in the NFL where one man’s dreams being crushed could open the door for another’s to come true.