The Broncos want a first-round choice in return for receiver Brandon Marshall. The Seahawks want to pay less than that. The most important question might be this: What does Marshall want?

Denver cannot trade Marshall unless Marshall signs the one-year offer the Broncos made to him as a restricted free agent. Marshall is unsigned.

That means Marshall has more power than the Seahawks or Broncos in determining whether a trade takes place before, during or after the draft. The Broncos could choose to do nothing and Marshall would most likely sign the one-year offer eventually to avoid forgoing his salary. But Denver would be stuck with an unhappy player, with Marshall potentially eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Any trade involving Marshall is most likely to happen before or during the draft. If Seattle remains the only serious suitor during the draft, the Broncos won't have realistic options beyond trading Marshall to the Seahawks or keeping him on their roster. Marshall most likely would not sign his tender to facilitate a trade without first working out a long-term deal with his next team.

The time between draft choices is enough for Marshall to sign his tender, but probably not enough for him to work out a long-term contract with a newly interested team. The Seahawks presumably would have had those discussions with Marshall already.

Restricted free agents have until April 15 -- Thursday of next week -- to sign offer sheets from other teams. The Seahawks would have to send the sixth overall pick to Denver if they signed Marshall to an offer sheet. That probably isn't happening.