Now that all the major moves have been made in free agency, teams are starting to turn their attention towards the NFL Draft. Quarterback-needy franchises are beginning to circle the drain for the top prospects at the position. This year, that means Jameis Winston - who is expected to go first overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and Marcus Mariota. While some teams around the league have their doubts about the latter, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports believes they will be selected back-to-back.
"It's a two quarterback draft and a good quarter of the league is at least uncertain about its present and/or future at this position," La Canfora wrote. "Mariota has more than enough supporters among NFL coaches and decision makers to end up going with the second pick, whether to the Titans, who own the pick, or another team via trade."
It seems increasingly unlikely that the Titans will take Mariota. Coach Ken Whisenhunt has always preferred strong-armed pocket quarterbacks and believes he may have unearthed a good one in 2014's sixth-rounder Zach Mettenberger. Mariota comes from a spread offense and has little experience operating in a conventional offense. ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. projects Tennessee to select USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams should the team stay at No. 2.
But will the Titans stay at No. 2? La Canfora lists five teams that could be interested in trading up for Mariota. The St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles all have varying levels of quarterback uncertainty.
The Rams just shipped off Sam Bradford for Nick Foles, but he is likely considered a stopgap at best. Picking 10th overall puts them in prime position for a move up the draft board. As La Canfora points out, St. Louis has already shown a willingness to make bold moves in the draft (RGIII trade, moving up for Tavon Austin). The Rams are a quarterback away from contention in the NFC West.
The Browns are stocked with two-first round picks and a whole lot of question marks at the quarterback position. Josh McCown lost his job while playing for the worst team in the league last year and Johnny Manziel's rookie season went about as bad as it possibly could. Cleveland has long been interested in Mariota and it has the draft capital to potentially make something happen.
The Saints seem an unlikely player in this drama, but remember that Drew Brees has just two seasons remaining on his contract and Sean Payton is going into full-on rebuilding mode (you don't trade Jimmy Graham otherwise). Mariota would be a great fit for Payton's offense.
San Diego is already marred in some rumored unpleasantness between the franchise and its star quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers has made it abundantly clear that he is happy to play out the last year of his deal without an extension, opening the door for an eventual exit in free agency next year. The ears of the Titans would most definitely perk up if the Chargers dropped Rivers' name in a trade scenario.
Finally, the Eagles are the most obvious candidate. Chip Kelly coached Mariota at Oregon and has gushed about him ever since. Yes, Philly just traded for Sam Bradford. But no one around the league is completely sold that the mad scientist is done tinkering just yet.
In the end, the possible bidding war created by these tames may result in a trade offer that is too rich for the Titans to pass on.
