Tennessee Titans Almost Have to Take Marcus Mariota Now
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
My faith in San Diego Chargers higher-ups has been restored!
NFL.com reported they won’t be trading quarterback Philip Rivers for the No. 2 pick to draft Marcus Mariota. G.M. Tom Telesco said last week, “There really is no update. It’s the same thing I’ve said for the last four months, Philip’s our quarterback and it’s our plan and intent that he’s our quarterback well into the future.”
So now, the Titans have to decide if they really want Mariota.
Apparently, they do as Tennessee Titans G.M. Ruston Webster and coach Ken Whisenhunt are still gushing over him. NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthol reported them as “laying it on thick” at their Tuesday predraft press conference, talking up Oregon prospect as a possibility for the No. 2 overall pick.
Webster said, “If you think a player is a franchise quarterback, then that supersedes everything else.” Whisenhunt then spoke of the Titans incorporating spread concepts into their offense if the team drafted Mariota. Rosenthol then reported NFL Network reporter Jeff Darlington calling Whisenhunt almost “comically transparent” when the coach talked up Mariota’s ability to attend the team’s veteran minicamp.
Webster then said of what it would take to trade for the No. 2 spot, “Because of players that are there, we’d need to get value that will help our team now and in future.” From this statement, you can tell that it would take a King’s ransom and then some to get the No. 2 overall pick from the Titans.
Do they really love Mariota or do they really want a whole lot for the right to pick him?
Either way, the Titans put themselves in a situation that they have to pick him.