While the assumption to this point in the pre-2015 NFL Draft process has been that the Tennessee Titans will, on the night of April 30, either field calls and make a trade with the highest bidder for the second-overall pick or simply stay put No. 2 and take former Oregon quarterback themselves, another theory has emerged.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports believes that a very possible scenario for the Titans and head coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Ruston Webster is to take Mariota with the second-overall pick, then immediately flip him to a desperate team for an even larger haul of picks and prospects than said team was offering prior to the selection - teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers.
"If there is any lingering doubt in the minds of the men pursuing Mariota via trade - whether it be Chip Kelly or Jimmy Haslam or Tom Telesco - the Titans would go ahead and take the quarterback there in the event there's anything holding those teams back from making their ultimate offer because they think maybe Mariota could be had lower," writes La Canfora. "If they doubt that Ken Whinsehunt would go ahead and pick the Oregon passer, well that ends the moment the Titans secure his rights by putting his name on the card. And yet the chase would still be on."
Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reported early Friday that, in talking with at least five different NFL sources, the widespread belief amongst plugged-in league members is that the Titans will, in fact, wind up selecting Mariota.
"I spoke to five NFL personnel men about where they believed Mariota would go in the upcoming draft, and all believed he'd be picked by Tennessee. Every one. No hesitation," Freeman wrote.
Of course, this is the time of year when lies are continually told and perpetuated and erroneous reports emerge time and again, seemingly out of thin air. The Titans though, seem to be positioned perfectly to do whatever they so choose in the 2015 NFL Draft.
By taking Mariota then fielding trade offers afterwards, as La Canfora suggests, the Titans would presumably be creating increased demand for a, suddenly, even scarcer product.
"The hunt could still be on. Whisenhunt would still have Zach Mettenberger under a cheap contract too and the Titans are high on that passer and optimistic about his future. So they'd have options if they moved Mariota," writes La Canfora.
With franchises like Philly - Sam Bradford - and the Chargers - Philip Rivers - reportedly willing to deal their veteran quarterbacks for Mariota, the Titans could wind up making out like bandits by drawing every last drop out of a deal with either team, nabbing a veteran signal-caller like Bradford or Rivers along with whatever major assets the organizations are willing to part ways with.
