New York Giants: Reasons To Love The Brandon Marshall Signing

4. Alleviating Pressure

The New York Giants have made it no secret that Eli Manning will force-feed the ball to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. That’s no slight on Beckham, but instead an acknowledgement of the reality that Manning will throw into closed windows to get him the ball.

By adding Brandon Marshall to the receiving corps, pressure should be alleviated and Manning should have an easier time of getting the ball to Beckham.

Egos will need to be checked in order for this to work, but Marshall’s presence makes it less necessary to get Beckham the ball. In other words: when teams bring double or triple coverage to contain Beckham, Marshall can exploit man coverage on the opposite side of the field.

If the opposing defense opts to bring its safeties to help the corners on both Beckham and Marshall, then Sterling Shepard can make plays over the middle to exploit their absence.

Whether or not Marshall has another 1,000-yard season, his mere presence on the field commands attention. He has the respect of defensive backs and coordinators, and the sheer size and physicality to remind them of why he’s such an important asset.

No matter what the numbers look like, Marshall will make it significantly easier for Manning to find his No. 1 receiver, Beckham, in 2017—a reality that should decrease the interception count.