The Tennessee Titans are in quiet the unenviable position, folks. I guess it’s time we start tossing this here question around in the air. We knew we’d get here eventually, but people are starting to discuss whether or not the Jon Robinson and company should begin thinking about offering a monster contract to quarterback Marcus Mariota. I actually wrote about this back in February. The weird thing is that not a lot has changed since then. The questions I asked then are still pretty relevant to the situation now. So, with nine games played and seven left to go, where do we stand?
We still have a ton of questions about Mariota.
Turron Davenport had an excellent, well-thought-out piece on this very topic for ESPN recently, so let’s piggy back off of that.
The Titans, with a new coaching regime led by Mike Vrabel and a new offensive coordinator (Matt LaFleur), exercised Mariota’s fifth-year option this past offseason. It would pay Mariota $20.9 million next season if they don’t give him a contract extension. If they let him play out the option next season, he could become a free agent in 2020 or Tennessee could use a tag (the franchise tag was $23.2 million for quarterbacks in 2018) to try to keep him.
I’d say this is a decision that will be made this offseason. You don’t want to get into a situation where contract talks become a distraction during the season. I don’t know that they would, for sure, with Mariota. Shit, maybe that’s me just assuming stuff. I am OCD and it would drive me nuts to go into 2019 not having a plan for the future at quarterback. How is that for football analysis? Just doesn’t really feel like having him ride through 2019 without a contract would be ideal. To me, that would mean J-Rob is content to move on from him.
It’s tough because we don’t really know a whole lot more than we did before the season started. Mariota dealt with the injury to the hand, losing his security blanket (Delanie Walker), and just dealing with this offense taking time to click in general.
“To me, Marcus Mariota is in one of those places that I don’t really like as a quarterback, so I don’t really know how to judge it,” (Steve) Young said. “I don’t know whether to say all of these issues are Mariota or maybe he’s not going to be an elite player. I don’t know. I just know the thing is not working. I feel like he’s a dynamic player. I would like to see him in other systems, but I don’t get to. I see him in Tennessee, and until further notice, I am just going to hold off. I am not sure who to blame for all of the ups and downs right now.”
“I don’t know…I don’t know if we’ll have enough time.” –Frank Ricard, Old School (2003).
At this point, you have to look at who’s available. Is anyone out there who would potentially be available via free agency an upgrade over Mariota? No. What are they going to do? Pay Ryan Fitzpatrick? Is that the route we go? Is Tyrod Taylor really a better option than a Mariota who has played in the system another year?
Is anyone in the 2019 NFL Draft an upgrade over Mariota? No. Hopefully, by the time the Titans pick, Justin Herbert and Drew Lock will be gone. So, we really wanna roll with Ryan Finley? Are we ready for that? Hell, I wouldn’t even take Herbert or Lock over Mariota right now!
Davenport ultimately came to the conclusion that the Titans should sign him, and I tend to agree.
Patience is the way to go – it ain’t good for Mariota to be sent to another franchise to work in yet another system. It ain’t good for the Titans to start from scratch at quarterback again.
It. ain’t. good.
It’s better for everyone if Mariota stays. So, do the deal!*
*”Do the deal” might become a trademarked phrase of the SoBros Network. Please do not use it until we figure that out.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.