By Adam Schefter
ESPN
Archive
The Denver Broncos are trading wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins for a second-round pick in next week's NFL draft and what league sources say is an additional second-round pick in 2011.
The trade is contingent upon the league processing the paperwork and Marshall passing his physical, neither of which is expected to be an issue on Wednesday.
Marshall is scheduled to fly to Miami to take his physical and, if he passes, sign what will be one of the most lucrative wide receiver deals in NFL history, according to league sources. In return, the Broncos will get two high draft picks for a player who caused them headaches in addition to making plays.
In little more than one year, with a pair of blockbuster trades, Denver has recouped an impressive two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Kyle Orton in exchange for Jay Cutler and Marshall.
The trade also shakes things up in the AFC East, as Miami will match and arguably top the deal the New York Jets made earlier this week, when they traded a fifth-round draft pick for talented but troubled Steelers recevier Santonio Holmes.
Marshall is one of the game's best young wide receivers, a mercurial talent at the position Miami needed help at most. He is in the prime of his career. But like Holmes, he also brings a reputation of being difficult to handle and a legal record that has him one strike from a year-long suspension.
Once Marshall signed his $2.5 million tender with the Broncos on Tuesday, it freed Denver to begin shopping him. Miami was hot after Marshall, as was Seattle. Tampa Bay showed some interest and even the Jets considered making a play for Marshall before their deal for Holmes, according to sources.
Adam Schefter is an ESPN NFL Insider.
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