Marcus Mariota

The Indianapolis Colts were interested in trading for Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota before landing Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller Carson Wentz, per Mike Kaye of NJ.com.

The report dropped on the same day the Colts announced that Wentz will be out five to 12 weeks after undergoing a procedure on his left foot. Jacob Eason is filling in as the Colts' starter in Wentz's absence.

Mariota, 27, is entering his seventh NFL season. He spent his first five with the Tennessee Titans, but he lost his job midway through the 2019 season in favor of Ryan Tannehill. Mariota never got the starting gig back and left the team via free agency after the campaign.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft found his way to the Raiders, slotting in as the QB2 behind Derek Carr.

Mariota took over for an injured Carr during a late-season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, completing 17 of 28 passes for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed nine times for 88 yards and another score in a 30-27 overtime loss.

That's all the action Mariota saw in 2020, and he didn't fare particularly well in six starts in 2019 (59.4 percent completion rate, seven passing touchdowns), so dealing for him might be a risk.

At any rate, the asking price might be high for Mariota anyway, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic:

Surgery it is for Wentz.
Before you ask about a trade for Mariota, #Raiders would be ok with Peterman as No. 2 but really like their QB room as is. Would take at least a 3rd-rounder to get them even interested in a trade. https://t.co/BGijNHqxjx

— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 2, 2021

Wentz could very well return on the earlier end of that return timeline. However, the pessimistic end has Wentz returning midseason, leaving the Colts in a potential bind.

For now, Eason is the guy. The former Georgia and Washington quarterback was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. He did not see any game time last year.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote the following scouting report on Eason in advance of the draft.

His elite size and arm talent are reminiscent of Carson Palmer, but issues with pocket poise and getting through progressions cleanly are more reminiscent of Brock Osweiler. Eason is fun to watch when he's ripping throws around the field and taking deep play-action shots, but a lack of mobility inside and outside the pocket is troubling, considering his ineffectiveness when pressured. He's relatively inexperienced and should continue to develop from the pocket, but poise is hard to fix, and handling exotic blitz packages is not a given. He's a pro-style, play-action-based quarterback with average starter potential and an average backup floor.

The 6'6", 231-pound Eason completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 23 touchdowns (and eight interceptions) during his final season in college for Washington.

Marcus Mariota is expected to sign a reworked deal with the Las Vegas Raiders that will be worth $3.5 million for one year, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rapoport noted the Raiders had initially sought an even bigger paycut:

The original paycut offer $3M. Marcus Mariota negotiated up, giving him a chance for some real upside. And, should be noted, the contract is also tradable if the opportunity arises. But for now, a resolution. https://t.co/qOx06yDvg5

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2021

Per Over The Cap, Mariota had been in line to receive a base salary of $10.6 million in 2021, with an additional $4.6 million available in bonuses.

This reworked deal comes after the Oregon product was named in multiple trade rumors in February. Rapoport previously reported "there's legitimate and real interest in Mariota," while noting it appeared as if the Raiders wanted to keep starting quarterback Derek Carr. 

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated echoed that sentiment in February: "While there were rumors floating around that the asking price for Carr was two first-round picks last week, I was told pretty emphatically that Carr isn't available. But the Raiders will listen on Mariota."

It also wasn't that long ago that Mariota appeared to have a bright future after the Tennessee Titans selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft following a collegiate career at Oregon that saw him win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Ducks to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

He threw for 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in his second NFL season in 2016 and followed up with 3,232 passing yards and 18 total touchdowns in 2017.

Mariota also led the Titans to a playoff victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in that 2017 campaign.

However, he has not been able to replicate that success since and eventually lost his starting job in Tennessee. The Raiders signed him to a two-year deal prior to the 2020 season, but he made just one appearance last year.

That came in a December divisional showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers after Carr suffered an early injury.

While Las Vegas lost the game in overtime, Mariota impressed with nine rushes for 88 yards and a touchdown while going 17-of-28 for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception through the air.

Now, it appears Mariota will return to the Raiders for at least one more season, albeit under a reworked deal.

The Las Vegas Raiders plan to offload Marcus Mariota by trading or releasing him if he doesn't accept a pay cut to $3 million ahead of the 2021 NFL season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the veteran quarterback "believes he has options" elsewhere and will likely decline any cut to his $10.7 million salary for 2021.

Las Vegas signed the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner to an incentive-laden two-year contract last offseason.

Bit of clarity on the above 👆🏼: Some of these incentives and escalators overlap, meaning they can only be earned once. So max value for Marcus Mariota over two years, as @TomPelissero tweeted, is $37.5m.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 23, 2020

The team intended for him to back up Derek Carr and potentially take over as the starter if Carr struggled, not unlike how Ryan Tannehill overtook Mariota for the starting job on the Tennessee Titans in 2019.

The 27-year-old made one appearance for the Raiders. He entered an eventual 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, finishing 17-of-28 for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 88 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

The Titans selected Mariota with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft but moved on for a reason. For his career, he has averaged 209.9 yards per game and completed 62.9 percent of his passes.

Even if a creative offensive coordinator can make use of his mobility, Mariota doesn't figure to be a good No. 1 option at quarterback.

Having said that, he might command more than the $3 million the Raiders apparently want him to accept.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Chicago Bears gave Andy Dalton a one-year, $10 million deal, while Tyrod Taylor received a one-year contract worth up to $12.5 million from the Houston Texans.

The sky isn't falling over Allegiant Stadium, where the Las Vegas Raiders call home. Yet the Silver and Black's 2021 forecast has a potential storm brewing on the horizon.

Every year, fans want to see their teams exhibit notable improvements, leading to tangible results, a winning record, a playoff berth and ultimately a shot to win the Super Bowl.

Three years into head coach Jon Gruden's tenure, the Raiders are still hoping to finish above .500. He has the odds stacked against him while trying to will the team back to the postseason, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press: 

82 coaches hired since 2000 lasted 3+ full seasons. 61 made the playoffs in the 1st three seasons, Gruden is the 21st not to. The only one of those to eventually make the playoffs was Jason Garrett, who did it in 4th season with Cowboys

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) December 27, 2020

As the shot-caller and team architect, Gruden deserves much of the blame for the Raiders' slow rebuild. In 2019, Mike Mayock accepted the general manager position but told ESPN's Steve Levy he ultimately answers to the Raiders skipper: 

https://twitter.com/RaiderPosts/status/1082461276897456128

We cannot completely discount Mayock's voice behind the scenes. With that said, Gruden—the chief decision-maker, head coach and offensive play-caller—has the final say, which is expected given his 10-year, $100 million contract. 

Gruden's level of power over the franchise has become a bigger issue than any of the team's statistical shortcomings because he sets the stage. He's struggled to foster an environment for growth and development.

Gruden and former Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie's 2018 draft class flopped with the exception of left tackle Kolton Miller and Maurice Hurst, a rotational defensive tackle. They traded a third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wideout Martavis Bryant, and that move amounted to nothing. He caught 19 passes for 266 yards in one season with the club.

That same year, the Raiders traded two of their best players in edge-rusher Khalil Mack and wide receiver Amari Cooper. They went on to perform at All-Pro and Pro Bowl levels for the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

Gruden found a playmaking gem at the end of the campaign, plucking tight end Darren Waller from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. He has the Raiders' single-season reception record (107), topping Hall of Fame wideout Tim Brown (104) in 2020.

Going into the 2019 offseason, the Raiders organization had an aura of optimism, equipped with three first-round picks after trading Mack and Cooper. They also acquired wideout Antonio Brown, but he never played a down for the team and celebrated his release.

Despite the offseason chaos around Brown, the Raiders saw some hope in a promising 2019 draft class with consistent contributors from Rounds 1 to 5, including Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, Trayvon Mullen, Maxx Crosby, Foster Moreau and Hunter Renfrow. 

In 2020, Jacobs earned a Pro Bowl nod, but collectively, the Raiders' talented group of second-year pros didn't see significant growth. Some of them took a small step back.

Ferrell recorded 21 quarterback pressures and logged two sacks. In between bouts with COVID-19 and a shoulder injury, the Clemson product flashed in moments few and far between. He brings more impact as a run-stopper than a pass-rusher, which isn't ideal for a top-five draft pick.

Mullen recorded 14 pass breakups and two interceptions, but he allowed a 93.1 passer rating in coverage, regressing from 78.3 in his rookie term. The starting cornerback also allowed a 62.1 percent completion rate, slightly worse than the 55.9 percent he yielded in 2019.

Maxx Crosby played through a torn labrum and a broken metal plate in his hand, which likely affected his impact in the second half of the season. He still recorded seven sacks and 32 quarterback pressures for the year.

Moreau took a backseat to tight end Jason Witten, who retired this offseason. The LSU product bounced back from a torn ACL and played 88 fewer total snaps than he did as a rookie. Gruden should've found a way to use him inside the opponent's 20-yard line—his offense ranked 23rd in red-zone scoring.

Meanwhile, the 2020 class didn't bring much pop to Las Vegas.

Henry Ruggs III, the first wideout off the draft board last April, ranked 11th in receptions (26) and ninth in receiving yards (452) among first-year receivers (h/t StatMuse).

In nine games, fellow first-rounder Damon Arnette struggled in coverage, allowing 25 catches on 32 targets and a 106.9 passer rating.

The Raiders traded third-rounder Lynn Bowden Jr. to the Miami Dolphins before Week 1.

Multiple rookies battled injuries and COVID-19, but Mayock expressed his dissatisfaction with the group's overall performance. 

"I was disappointed in the productivity of our rookies," Mayock said. "I'll be the first one to admit that." 

While the Raiders rookies went through growing pains, they couldn't depend on their free-agent class, which has become a trending problem under Gruden.

Based on guaranteed money, take a look at the two highest-paid veteran acquisitions each year since 2018, per Spotrac.

     

2018

WR Jordy Nelson: $13M (retired - 2019)

LB Tahir Whitehead: $6.28M (cut - 2020)

     

2019

OT Trent Brown: $36.25M (traded in principle - 2021)

S Lamarcus Joyner: $21.30M (cut - 2021)

     

2020

LB Cory Littleton: $22M

DE Carl Nassib: $16.75M

Among those signings, Brown is the only one who earned a Pro Bowl nod with the team, and Vegas agreed to trade him to the New England Patriots, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

According to The Athletic's Vic Tafur, the Raiders had questions about Brown's work ethic after he tipped the scales at 400 pounds last year.

For two years, Joyner seemed like a miscast slot cornerback after a couple of solid terms as a safety for the Los Angeles Rams. Littleton didn't show positive signs until the end of the 2020 campaign. The coaching staff benched Nassib as a healthy scratch in consecutive games.

Gruden hired Gus Bradley to replace former defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, and the new play-caller has to coach up and fill holes at all three levels of the unit.

Gruden assembled a staff that fielded the worst defenses in franchise history, setting new marks for points allowed in a single season in two of the last three years. In 2020, he watched opposing offenses gash his team for 14 weeks before firing Guenther, who's also his friend.

We can point to the Raiders' porous defense or an offensive line that may undergo significant changes as the team's primary focus this offseason, but both issues are symptoms of Gruden's staff- and roster-building decisions. 

Now, Gruden has to clean up free-agent whiffs via roster cuts and trades and spend more money on veterans to compensate for the sluggish development of his recent draft classes in hopes that he made the right hire in Bradley. 

The Raiders should be further along in their fourth year under Gruden. As fans clamor for a resurgence in Las Vegas, owner Mark Davis needs to apply pressure to the main man in charge.

The Philadelphia Eagles might be surprise suitors for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota this season. 

According to Ben Standig of The Athletic, "while Philadelphia wouldn't seem like an obvious landing spot—Jalen Hurts remains, and Mariota and Carson Wentz are repped by the same agency—one prominent league source said to keep an eye on the Eagles if Mariota is traded or released."

The expectation is that the Eagles will give Hurts a season to prove whether he's capable of being a franchise quarterback after he played solid football as a rookie, throwing for 1,061 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions in 15 appearances (four starts), completing 52 percent of his passes. 

The numbers don't look great on paper, and the Eagles went just 1-3 in his starts under center. But his 354 rushing yards and three scores added a different dimension to the team's offense, and the Eagles simply looked more competitive last season with Hurts at quarterback then they did with Carson Wentz (2,620 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 50 sacks taken, 57.4 completion percentage, 3-8-1 as the starter).

In the above scenario, adding a veteran backup for Hurts would make sense. Mariota has a similar skill set, making him a logical fallback for the second-year option. 

Granted, the Eagles could also choose to use the No. 6 overall pick on a quarterback, with BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance potential options. 

As for Mariota, most of the reporting surrounding the veteran quarterback suggests he won't be with Las Vegas next season: 

From NFL Now: It's looking more likely that #Raiders starting QB Derek Carr is back for 2021, while backup QB Marcus Mariota is not. He's been the subject of trade calls. pic.twitter.com/Zr2cminAQq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 22, 2021

From NFL Now: #Raiders QB Marcus Mariota has generated a lot of interest from teams, but the max value of his contract has been an issue for teams. Trade talk has slowed considerably. Could he be eventually released? pic.twitter.com/pPlwOSS3Yk

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2021

He made one appearance for the Raiders last season, throwing for 226 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He spent the first five years of his career with the Tennessee Titans before being supplanted by Ryan Tannehill.

The trade market for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota has reportedly gone cold.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that "Mariota had an active trade market as of last week. Sounds like that is dried up for a couple of different reasons."

From NFL Now: The QB Carousel is now stuck in the mud. The #Jets won't move any time soon, the #Texans haven't been willing to discuss it... there may be a bit of a lull overall. pic.twitter.com/pc2Hr3Di5C

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2021

From NFL Now: #Raiders QB Marcus Mariota has generated a lot of interest from teams, but the max value of his contract has been an issue for teams. Trade talk has slowed considerably. Could he be eventually released? pic.twitter.com/pPlwOSS3Yk

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2021

The 27-year-old played well in his one appearance in 2020, throwing for 226 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed nine times for 88 yards and a score. The Raiders lost that contest 30-27 in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers.

His solid outing revitalized talk that Mariota might still be a capable starter in the NFL after losing his starting gig to Ryan Tannehill with the Tennessee Titans in 2019. The Raiders brought him aboard to back up Derek Carr last season. 

With a reasonable cap hit of just $10.7 million next season, he'd be an interesting option for a team looking to upgrade at quarterback without breaking the bank or for a team that drafts a young quarterback but doesn't want to throw him into the fire immediately.

It seems less likely that Mariota will return to Las Vegas, with Rapoport reporting earlier in the week that Carr likely would be back as the team's quarterback next season:

From NFL Now: It's looking more likely that #Raiders starting QB Derek Carr is back for 2021, while backup QB Marcus Mariota is not. He's been the subject of trade calls. pic.twitter.com/Zr2cminAQq

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 22, 2021

The quarterback trade market has already been unusually busy, with Matt Stafford, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz traded. But with those three dealt—and uncertainty abound when it comes to the fate of Deshaun Watson—it appears that market has slowed. 

Expect things to heat back up closer to April's NFL draft. 

With four straight seasons at .500 or worse, the Las Vegas Raiders' approach isn't working. Fortunately, a seller's market is emerging around the league for quality quarterbacks, and the Raiders have a pair of enticing options in Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota. 

On Monday, Ben Standig, Joe Person and Zak Keefer of The Athletic cited multiple sources, including one general manager,  who said "the Raiders' preference is to move Marcus Mariota and keep Carr, unless someone makes them a ridiculous offer for Carr." However, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported last week that "several NFL insiders expect the Raiders to field calls from teams inquiring about Carr's availability."

That stance is understandable considering Carr has started all but two games for them over the past seven seasons. But to change the trajectory of their franchise, the Raiders should keep Mariota and trade Carr rather than the inverse.

Moving on from Carr wouldn't be an indictment of his talent. He's still an excellent starting option with three straight 4,000-yard seasons, and the 2020 campaign was arguably his finest yet. 

"I never know what Jon's gonna do," Jay Gruden, former Washington head coach and Gruden's brother, told The Athletic. "But I'd be shocked, really. The way that Derek played this year, I don't know why he’d want to get rid of him. But who knows, if there’s another guy out there that they really, really like, it is a business at the end of the day." 

The difference between Carr and Mariota isn't great enough to ixnay the possibility of moving on from the former this offseason.

As well as Carr has played in recent years, the Raiders have been to the playoffs only once in his seven seasons. They could save nearly $20 million in salary-cap space by trading Carr this offseason, per Over the Cap, and he should net a sizable return.

By Carr's own admission, the team put forth an unacceptable effort when it fell short of the postseason in a year where the league expanded the playoff format: 

"This is a team game. It doesn't matter what one side of the ball did and what one side of the ball didn’t. As a team, we did not accomplish anything close to what we wanted to accomplish, so it's not good enough. ...

"Not making the playoffs just can't be accepted."

The quarterback receives the lion's share of credit when a team wins and bears the brunt of disappointment when it doesn't. It's the most high-profile job in professional sports. By not making any changes of consequence, the Raiders could be relegating themselves to mediocrity moving forward.

Carr sat on the fringe of the top 10 quarterbacks in passing yardage, passing touchdowns, QBR and quarterback rating this past season. While that caliber of signal-caller would be a welcome addition to some downtrodden franchises, the Raiders are looking to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. The Los Angeles Chargers are also a team to reckon with after Justin Herbert's explosive rookie campaign. 

Mariota, the 2015 second overall pick, could experience a career revival much like Ryan Tannehill did in his stead. It's a risk, but the potential return is well worth the exposure the team might endure. The 27-year-old is entering his second year in a system that can expand thanks to his athleticism.

In his lone appearance last season, Mariota extended plays and carried the Raiders offense with a team-leading 88 rushing yards. If not for poor late-game decisions by Gruden, Las Vegas could have emerged victorious against the Chargers. 

An anonymous general manager told The Athletic that Carr should be worth more in a trade than Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. Multiple teams—the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts—should show interest in him if the Raiders will listen to offers.

The Panthers offered the eighth overall pick, a fifth-round pick and Teddy Bridgewater in an attempt to pry Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. New England, Washington, Chicago and Indianapolis own the 15th, 19th, 20th and 21st overall selections, respectively. 

A first-round pick alone probably won't get a deal done. However, the value of that pick shouldn't be overlooked. The Raiders could have at least three selections in the top 50 to address multiple areas, including quarterback. 

Mariota would step into a starting role, but the organization could hedge its bets by drafting a quarterback with one of those picks. If Mariota doesn't evolve as hoped, the next signal-caller would already be in the pipeline. 

The Raiders aren't in a great place financially, either. The 2021 salary cap is expected to come in around $180-181 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, which means Las Vegas is projected to be roughly $18-19 million over the cap. The Raiders would single-handedly fix their cap issues with a Carr trade, while trading Mariota would save them only $11.35 million.

Continuity often facilitates success, and Carr and the Raiders have showed incremental improvement over the last three seasons. But Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just obliterated the idea of continuity being a vital component to a winning season. An organization can come together in short order after making impactful offseason changes.

The Raiders won't be bringing in Brady this offseason, but complacency shouldn't be an option. 

The desperation of quarterback-needy teams should drive up Carr's price in a potential bidding war. The Raiders already have an adequate replacement on the roster. Something needs to give.

By trading Carr and moving on to Mariota, the Raiders would take the drastic step they'd need not to be a middling franchise anymore. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that "there's legitimate and real interest" in Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota, who appeared in one game this season, taking over for a hurt Derek Carr in Week 15.

In the 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Mariota completed 17 of his 28 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown, adding a rushing score while compiling 88 yards on nine carries.

The No. 2 pick in 2015, Mariota is entering the final season of his two-year deal with the Raiders and is set to earn $10.6 million in base salary in 2021, per NFL.com's Grant Gordon. If he makes a move, it will be his third team in as many years.

The quarterback rumor mill has been spinning since the Detroit Lions sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Goff. Per Gordon, Rapoport had previously reported that teams around the league believed the Raiders were "open" to moving either of their quarterbacks.

But the latest development finds that the team is hoping to hang on to Carr. Per Gordon, Rapoport said it "didn't sound like [the Raiders have] hung up the phone, but I don't get the sense they want to deal him, either."

The 29-year-old Carr is set to enter his eighth season in the league, having spent all of them with the Raiders. The 2014 second-round pick has two years left on a five-year, $125 million extension.

In 2020, he posted a career-high 4,103 yards with 27 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 67.3 completion percentage.

Keeping Carr is a smart move for the Raiders, and while Mariota is a capable backup, his $10.725 million cap hit without penalty for moving on makes a trade an ideal option.

The Las Vegas Raiders may trade a quarterback this offseason, but it reportedly will not be Derek Carr.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote Monday: "While there were rumors floating around that the asking price for Carr was two first-round picks last week, I was told pretty emphatically that Carr isn't available." 

However, Breer reported the Raiders are willing to listen to offers for backup signal-caller Marcus Mariota.

While bigger names such as Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold could all be on the move via trades this offseason, Mariota would be a cheaper flier for a team hoping to help him rediscover his potential.

The Tennessee Titans selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft following a brilliant collegiate career at Oregon. Mariota threw for more than 3,200 yards in 2016 and 2017 in Tennessee and can make plays with his legs either as a runner or by escaping pressure if the pocket breaks down.

The Oregon played in only one game this season for the Raiders when Carr suffered an injury in the early going of a Dec. 17 divisional showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mariota ran nine times for 88 yards and a touchdown while also going 17-of-28 for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception through the air.

Las Vegas ultimately fell in overtime by three points, but he looked like a potential upgrade under center for handful of teams around the league.

Mariota is only 27, should be relatively fresh after his limited playing time in 2020 and is under contract through the 2021 campaign. He could be a low-risk addition for a quarterback-needy team and is reportedly available this offseason.