NFL Rumors: As Many As Seven Teams Could Trade Up To Draft Marcus Mariota — Which Of These Have The Best Shot?
The 2015 NFL Draft is only about two weeks away, and the status of quarterback Marcus Mariota is totally up in the air. It’s almost a lock that Jameis Winston will go first overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Tennessee Titans have the second pick, but could very well trade it away and as many as seven teams may be looking to snag it.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports has put his word on it that Winston and Mariota will go one and two. He has said again that Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles are not keeping it secret that they would like to have Mariota come into camp.
The Eagles are but one of those teams that are rumored to be looking at trading up for Mariota, but who knows what could happen. Let’s see what other teams may take a chance at the phenom quarterback.
Philadelphia Eagles: After they got Sam Bradford in the trade with the St. Louis Rams, Kelly knows he has a veteran QB, but an injury-prone one. Everyone also knows that he loves his former Oregon Ducks and thinks Mariota could win a few Super Bowls, but what happens to Mark Sanchez?
St. Louis Rams: Speaking of the Rams, they got rid of Bradford and now have Nick Foles, but their eyes are also on Mariota, per Bleeding Green Nation.
San Diego Chargers: There has been talk of Philip Rivers possibly being a trade option so that San Diego can move up to get Mariota. Some feel it’s a possibility, but others think it is totally absurd.
The #Chargers trading Philip Rivers is idiotic. Here is some actual research to back that up: http://t.co/HCRsAgdbos #NBC7Sportswrap
— Derek Togerson (@DerekNBCSD) April 15, 2015
Cleveland Browns: With Johnny Manziel now out of rehab, the rumors are swirling about whether he will stay in Cleveland or not. The Browns took a big chance on him last year, and it hasn’t quite worked out like they hoped it would. Bringing in Marcus Mariota could be another chance, but one that may come without all the drama.
New York Jets: Hints have been dropped about another quarterback being brought into the fold, and there’s no real secret that those hints were aimed at Mariota. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, and Matt Simms don’t appear to be enough or the answer for the Jets, so why not really light a fire under them by bringing in the next big thing?
Washington Redskins: Not a lot has been talked about with the Redskins, but their name is often brought up when speaking of the draft and Marcus Mariota. Robert Griffin III has dealt with a lot of injuries, and the other quarterbacks on the roster just haven’t stepped up to the plate.
New Orleans Saints: This may be the biggest long shot, but some believe Drew Brees’ career is rounding a curve toward the end. There are experts who think he may have two or three years left, and that would allow Marcus Mariota to learn from one of the best in the league for a few years. New Orleans also has a ton of picks in the draft that they could use to move up.
The Tennessee Titans have the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but there are a lot of teams that want it. Seven teams are currently making the NFL rumor rounds, but so much more can happen before and even during the draft, and it may not be until the time comes for that selection to be made that anyone knows where Marcus Mariota will go.
[Image via USA Today / Kirby Lee]
