Brandon Marshall is scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent, IAOFM has confirmed through a reliable source. This means that Denver will be able to tender Marshall a one-year deal at a salary of $585K, and the linebacker will not be free to negotiate with any other teams, unless the Broncos inexplicably choose not to tender him.

Obviously, there's no chance of Denver dumping its leading tackler, so for all intents and purposes, Marshall is not going to reach free agency this offseason, and will be a restricted free agent in 2016.

As far as we know, every national outlet - aside from Over The Cap - has incorrectly listed Marshall as a restricted free agent this offseason. RFA status would carry with it a far more expensive tender of $3.347M (first round) or $2.351M (second round), and the ability to negotiate with other teams.

We're not sure why there's been so much confusion, but a look at Marshall's career makes it clear that he's only accrued two years of experience. The 2012 draftee spent 16 weeks on Denver's practice squad in 2013, before being promoted for the Week 17 finale at Oakland. A player must be on either the 53-man roster or injured reserve for at least six weeks of the regular season to be credited with a year of service time.

Marshall's accrued seasons are 2012 and 2014, and thus, he is an ERFA. For the Broncos, that's one fewer key player they don't have to worry about losing or re-signing, and a couple or few million bucks in cash and cap space they won't have to spend on the 2014 breakout star of their defense. To be clear, though, this is not news to Marshall or the Broncos (or to IAOFM).