The NFL world has long been speculating about what the Tennessee Titans will do with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft. While some expect the Titans to draft a quarterback, a recent surge of rumors has suggested that the team will trade out of the slot to acquire more picks.
However, recent history tells us that any team considering a move up the draft board for either Florida State's Jameis Winston or Oregon's Marcus Mariota -- the top two QB prospects in this year's class -- should think twice before doing so.
"I wouldn't mortgage my franchise for either of those guys," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock. He references the 2012 trade that saw the Washington Redskins ship three first-round picks and a second-rounder for the chance to draft Robert Griffin III as a cautionary tale.
"Washington went and got the guy they thought could help them win a Super Bowl," Mayock said. "Because of what's happened with that kid, both with injuries and the way he's played, I think a lot of teams are very nervous about the perception of mortgaging your future."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will pick first and Mayock - along with several other draft analysts - thinks the team will go with Winston, despite his off-field issues. The New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans have all been rumored to be interested in moving up the draft board for a QB, presumably after Winston is selected. Are those rumors grounded in truth or just conjecture?
"I don't see the market that we had for RGIII," Mayock said. "There's contrasting issues with both of them. Obviously with Jameis Winston my concern No. 1 is on the field - he throws too many interceptions. However, I can see everything I want so see on tape beyond that.
"The biggest concern is whether or not he can be the face of your franchise. Let's face it, he was the face of the Florida State franchise and that didn't stop him from making a bunch of bad decisions off the field."
Mayock believes the Titans could opt to stick with 2014 sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger at quarterback to start next season. Mettenberger threw for 1,412 yards with eight touchdowns against seven interceptions while completing 59.8 percent of his passes in six starts. Unfortunately, the Titans did not win any of the games Mettenberger started. Still, Mayock thinks he stands a chance of making it in the NFL.
"Mettenberger has a big arm. He has NFL starting caliber arm strength. So this is not a normal sixth-round pick," he said. "So if you go through a year with him and say, 'Wow, he can make every throw, he works his tail off, we love him in the film room, he's a leader'....now you can deal from strength and (you) don't have to take a quarterback....(You) can take the No. 1 player on the board, probably in their case an edge rusher.
"If I am Tennessee, I am hoping that my evaluation of Mettenberger is high enough that I think we can win with him, because it gives me more options on the other end. However, if it is not and we think we can upgrade that quarterback position to a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, then you have to pull the trigger."
