Broncos LB Brandon Marshall Says Colin Kaepernick Better Than Geno Smith

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall stood up for free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick on Friday and expressed his belief that Kaepernick should be on a team. Marshall and Kaepernick were teammates in college.

In a TMZ Sports exclusive, Marshall spoke highly of Kaepernick and said he was better than several quarterbacks who are currently employed, including New York Giants backup Geno Smith.

Marshall also listed Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Matt Barkley as inferior players to Kaepernick.

The former University of Nevada linebacker also called Kaepernick the hardest-working player he's ever been around and praised his talent and intelligence.

Kaepernick remains unsigned following a 2016 season that saw him go just 1-10 as a starter for the San Francisco 49ers.

The 29-year-old veteran's stats were solid, though, with 2,241 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions to go along with 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

A major topic of debate within football has been whether Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem last season is playing a role in teams declining to sign him.

Kaepernick did have a workout with the Seattle Seahawks, but they signed Austin Davis instead.

Among free-agent quarterbacks, Kaepernick is the only one to have led a team to the Super Bowl. He took the Niners to the big game at the end of the 2012 season.