Marcus Mariota to LA Chargers makes little sense
By Travis Wakeman
Marcus Mariota, once the No.2 overall pick in the NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
With the way Ryan Tannehill played for the Titans last season, he will likely be back and the team will turn the page on the Marcus Mariota era. The former Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner will be looking for a new team.
Many have wondered if that new team could be the LA Chargers, and Pro Football Focus has actually predicted it.
Ranked as their No. 14 free agent, Mariota will join the Chargers according to PFF as a bridge quarterback or a “backup to a bridge quarterback”. Mariota probably wants a little better than that.
The Chargers are in the market for a new quarterback to be sure, but with so many available options, why would Mariota be an option? Tyrod Taylor is already a bridge quarterback, so bringing in Mariota to muddy those waters even further makes no sense.
The Chargers have several options awaiting them in the NFL draft at the quarterback position and with the No. 6 overall pick, will have their crack at one of them if they want them. But free agency comes first and the Chargers have been connected to Tom Brady who seems to be inching his way out of New England.
Though he will be 43 years old when the 2020 season kicks off, the Chargers would probably choose Brady over Mariota. Just a hunch.
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If the Chargers signed Mariota, it would be as a last resort. But since there are several options available after free agency, that shouldn’t be an issue.
The Chargers have Taylor and Easton Stick on the roster. If they add a name like Brady or one of the top names in the draft, that will suffice. There would be no need for a guy like Mariota. Yet, others have made the connection between Mariota and the Chargers as well.
Mariota is the only free agent in their top 50 that PFF has signing with the Chargers, even though the Chargers have plenty of money to spend this offseason. Interestingly, the site predicts that the Patriots will sign tight end Hunter Henry and that Melvin Gordon will wind up as a member of the Detroit Lions.
The free-agent signing period kicks off in just under three weeks.