Bears needed sweetener to move Brandon Marshall

In the end, the Bears had to sweeten their trade offer to offload perhaps the greatest receiver in franchise history.

Brandon Marshall was officially shipped to the Jets on Tuesday with an unexpected addition — a 2015 seventh-round pick — in exchange for the Jets’ fifth-rounder this year.

That speaks more to the state of NFL trades — unable to find a match, the Texans released another veteran star receiver, Andre Johnson — than it does the prowess of new GM Ryan Pace. The Bears, though, gave two third-rounders to the Dolphins for Marshall three years ago.

Marshall didn’t seem surprised by the deal, which came together Friday. He told the Jets’ web site he “kind of knew” he’d be traded.

“It was pretty cool to be able to sit back and figure out who really wanted me and the right place for me,” he said.

Marshall played for Jets head coach Todd Bowles and receivers coach Karl Dorrell in Miami. He told the site he hadn’t played “with a great defense in a very long time.”

Marshall said he “can still do everything — and I’m excited to do that.” His talent, though, is not why Marshall will play for his fourth team in his nine-year career.

Marshall spent last season traveling to New York to film Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” on off days. He signed a three-year contract extension on “The View” and held a rambling press conference to refute old domestic violence claims. He screamed at teammates and, on at least one occasion, got in a heated dispute with a coach.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com

Twitter: @patrickfinley