Is Brandon Marshall a Hall of Famer?

There was time when it was fair to question whether wide receiver Brandon Marshall deserved to play another down in the NFL, let alone to discuss his merits for being given a bust in the league's shrine to its greatest players.

Earlier in his career, Marshall was as dominating an athlete as there was in the NFL, however, his off-field issues caused him to be let go by team after team.

Now, Marshall has turned his life around, personally and professionally, and after a record-breaking season with the New York Jets, and with his first playoff berth in sight, it's a legitimate question whether Marshall one day deserves a place in Canton.

Redemption

Marshall has a extensive list of off-field incidents, ranging from 2004 - when he was still in college - to 2012. It wouldn't be surprising if these incidents doomed his Hall of Fame chances, regardless of on-field success.

And there is precedent for this; Marvin Harrison, for example. There wasn't a more dominating statistical receiver during his time in the league, but with off-field issues clouding the ex-Indianapolis Colts' case for Canton, he's still waiting to be inducted.

However, in 2011, Marshall took the first step in his journey from locker room cancer to the player who was just voted team MVP when he announced his diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and revealed the mental health issues that plagued him during his career.

While this doesn't excuse Marshall from some of his incidents - including domestic violence issues - he held himself accountable and showed a desire for change, which is exactly what he did.

Marshall has become the face of BPD and helped raise awareness for mental illness, which still struggles to get attention in the sports world.

Since then, Marshall has become a leader and a role model for younger players, and in doing so, has allowed people to focus on his outstanding achievements on the field, rather than his issues off it.

Numbers

Marshall's statistics hold up against any receiver during this era.

When you look at what Marshall has produced since 2007 - his sophomore season after a slow rookie year - the only comparable receivers are slam-dunk Hall of Famers like Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.

Since 2007, Marshall leads NFL players with 854 receptions. He trails only Johnson in yards (11,482 to 10,838) and touchdowns (82 to 76), with Fitzgerald just behind the pair in both categories.

No one would argue those two won't be first-ballot players when their times come, so why the question with Marshall?

He hasn't had the chance to dominate when the spotlight is brightest, like Fitzgerald's legendary playoff run in 2008, or reach a peak that Johnson achieved in 2012, but Marshall has produced an unrivaled level of consistency.

In last Sunday's win over the New England Patriots, Marshall became the first player in NFL history with six seasons of at least 100 catches.

At 31 years old, Marshall presumably has several years of elite productivity ahead of him to make his statistical argument bulletproof, even in today's pass-happy NFL.

Quarterback context

Harrison played almost exclusively with Peyton Manning. Fitzgerald sandwiched several years of poor quarterback play between Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer. Matthew Stafford, for all his faults, has been a great fit for Johnson.

When you look at the list of quarterbacks Marshall has endured, it provides a new perspective on his career.

There has been some decent players, like Jay Cutler, Ryan Tannehill, and 2015 Ryan Fitzpatrick, but there's been an overwhelming amount of terrible.

Chad Henne. Matt Moore. Josh McCown. Jimmy Clausen, just to name a few.

And let's not forget the best quarterback Marshall has ever played with, according to him: Kyle Orton.

Now, lots of great receivers have struggled with the same issue throughout their careers, like Andre Johnson. But context is always important when analyzing achievement, and Marshall's career looks all the more impressive considering the obstacles he's fought through.

So is Marshall on his way to Canton?

Marshall's career is much different compared to most other candidates. He's been traded not once, not twice, but thrice, by teams who felt he wasn't worth their time, despite outstanding production.

That just doesn't happen to Hall of Fame-caliber players.

However, with the Jets primed to make noise in the playoffs, and Marshall the crux of the team's success, he's in position rewrite his legacy and solidify his case for being rightfully placed among the best receivers of his generation.