Marcus Mariota

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has a positive outlook regarding the organization's decision to sign Marcus Mariota in free agency. 

In an interview with Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Carr made it clear that he has no issue with the fact that the Raiders brought in Mariota to back him up and potentially even compete with him for the starting job:

"I gotta be honest with you, it doesn't even bother me one bit. And that is being completely true to myself. No one outside of who I am is going to push me harder than me. Like, I always encourage guys to go ahead and wake up when I wake up, study how much I study, work hard like I work hard. I'm not the least bit looking to my left or to my right when I'm doing a rep, I'm focused on me. It's just that when you're the same face and you're one of the last same faces that's been around for seven years, people just look for things to point out."

Carr has been the Raiders' starting quarterback since getting selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft, while Mariota was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft and served as the Tennessee Titans' starter until getting supplanted by Ryan Tannehill in the middle of last season.

Carr noted that he is in constant contact with head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock, and added that he was well aware that the Raiders were targeting Mariota before they signed him.

In addition to having no issue with the Raiders signing Mariota, Carr effusively praised Mariota and how he has handled himself since joining Las Vegas:

"I will say this, I've been around a lot of good dudes, but he's one of the best people that I've ever been around. I've had a lot of great quarterbacks come into our room and a lot of guys that were excited—E.J. Manuel comes to mind—but Marcus was the first one out of all those guys that right when he signed, he texted me and said, 'Derek, I am here to fully support you and help in any way that I can, and grow myself as a player and get healthy.' And not one time has that ever happened. He's just here to help ... and obviously, he is here to compete—we all know that. This is football. That's everybody's job."

While the Raiders went just 7-9 last season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, Carr is coming off one of his best statistical campaigns. He completed a career-best 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,054 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a Raiders team that performed better than expected.

The offense should be even more explosive in 2020 as well since three rookies in first-round wide receiver Henry Ruggs, third-round wide receiver Bryan Edwards and third-round running back Lynn Bowden are joining a talented set of skill-position players that already includes running back Josh Jacobs, tight end Darren Waller and wideout Tyrell Williams.

Carr is a three-time Pro Bowler, and he arguably has a better chance to succeed this season than ever before due to the talent the front office has put around him.

Should he falter, however, the Raiders now have a backup has won a playoff game as a starter and made 61 regular-season starts in his career.

Mariota has thrown a total of just 31 touchdown passes over the past three seasons after throwing a career-high 26 in 2016, which means he may not be an immediate threat to Carr. After watching Tannehill take his job last season in Tennessee, however, Mariota is cognizant of the fact that it only takes one opportunity to change a career trajectory.

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly a "dark horse" to take a quarterback in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft despite the presence of Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota on the roster. 

Mel Kiper of ESPN wrote that Jon Gruden could target Jordan Love, allowing Carr to remain the starter next season while "grooming" the Utah State product. The top three quarterbacks in this class—Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert—are expected to be off the board by the time the Raiders pick at No. 12.

Despite near-constant rumors about replacing Carr, the Raiders have given the quarterback several votes of confidence. They did not appear to be in the Tom Brady sweepstakes, instead signing Mariota as a backup, and general manager Mike Mayock was complimentary of Carr at the draft combine. 

"The guy completed 70 percent of his passes," Mayock told reporters. "He had almost a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. ... We were No. 11 in the league in total yards [363.7 per game]. We were seventh in third-down conversions [44 percent]. We did a lot of really good things on offense last year.

"Derek Carr played at a high level. I'm very happy with Derek Carr. What I've told everybody I've been in touch with since the day I took this job is we're going to evaluate every position every year, and if we can get better, we will. Guys get tired of me saying that, but that's really what I told [Raiders owner] Mark Davis before I took the job and that's my mantra."

There doesn't appear to be any real evidence that the Raiders are considering a quarterback. The speculation likely comes from a combination of Gruden's longstanding adoration of young quarterbacks and Carr's generally mediocre performance.

Carr has been a 20-20 quarterback in his two seasons under Gruden, consistently completing a high percentage of his passes while failing to cap off drives with touchdowns. Much of that is a product of Carr's conservatism with the ball and lack of ability to stretch the field; he had had the second-lowest aggressiveness percentage among NFL quarterbacks last season, per NFL.com.

Love is the anthesis of Carr, a rocket-armed, aggressive quarterback with every physical tool in the world but a propensity to make bad throws. If the Raiders wanted to move on from Carr, he would be the type of player who makes sense.

That said, the Raiders have far more pressing needs than quarterback. Their receiving corps might be the worst in football, and their defense was third-worst in the AFC in points allowed in 2019. 

Despite making Marcus Mariota the highest-paid backup quarterback in the NFL, Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock appears to be staying the course with starter Derek Carr. 

Mayock addressed the media ahead of next week's NFL draft and praised the depth he's created at the position. 

"We love what we have in @derekcarrqb...we feel we have a very strong quarterback room." - #Raiders GM Mike Mayock

— Paul Gutierrez (@PaulHGutierrez) April 14, 2020

"We love what we have in Derek Carr," Mayock said, per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "We feel we have a very strong quarterback room."

After giving Mariota a two-year, $17.6 million contract with a maximum value of $37.5 million, the Raiders are now carrying four quarterbacks with starting experience, as DeShone Kizer and Nathan Peterman fill out the position group.

While Mayock remains complimentary of Carr, who is the supposed starter until Mayock or head coach Jon Gruden say otherwise, his actions may speak louder than words. Rarely will teams spend so much on a backup if there isn't some chance of him seeing considerable playing time. 

Carr was more than serviceable last season, but the Raiders finished 7-9. He passed for 4,054 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 100.8 rating—the highest mark in his professional career. 

But as the franchise begins play in Las Vegas, it can hardly afford another sub-.500 season. That's where Mariota comes in. 

Should Carr not continue to progress, should the team become stale, or should the play dictate it, Mariota's more mobile game would provide an alternate style on offense compared to what the team is used to with Carr. 

It's a gamble nonetheless and a reality the Raiders are preparing for. There have been other, cheaper options at backup quarterback this offseason. Case Keenum signed for three years and $18 million in Cleveland, while A.J. McCarron agreed to re-sign in Houston for one year and $4 million. 

There were plenty of backup-caliber players available. The Raiders paid theirs a starting salary. 

Reported deals via NFL.com's free-agency tracker. Reported statistics via ProFootballReference.com 

 

Marcus Mariota isn't an NFL starting quarterback anymore. But as the former Tennessee Titan transitions to life with the Las Vegas Raiders, he is now the league's highest-paid backup quarterback, per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.

Mariota signed a two-year, $17.6 million deal with a $7.5 million base salary in his first season. If he reaches all of his incentives, he could earn up to $37.4 million under the contract. 

Derek Carr, who remains the starter in Las Vegas, will have a base salary of $18.9 million in 2020.

Mariota takes the highest-paid backup crown from Teddy Bridgewater, who held that title in 2019. That investment proved to be worthwhile for the New Orleans Saints. After starter Drew Brees injured his thumb in Week 2, Bridgewater guided the team to five straight wins while throwing for 1,205 yards, nine touchdowns and two inceptions. Because of Bridgewater's play, the Saints were able to weather Brees' injury and continue marching to the playoffs. 

The second-highest-paid backup last season was Ryan Tannehill, who replaced Mariota as the Titans' starter halfway through the season and ultimately played Mariota out of Tennessee.

While the Raiders are hoping they won't need to use Mariota much this season, his hefty deal goes to show how they're preparing for the possibility that Carr isn't able to move the team forward. With this being the franchise's first season in Las Vegas, making a strong impression will be crucial, and the Raiders aren't going to get caught without a Plan B. 

Carr passed for 4,054 yards last season with 21 touchdowns and eight picks en route to a 7-9 record. Mariota threw for 1,203 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions while going 2-4 as a starter before Tannehill supplanted him.

The 26-year-old Mariota still has time for a redemption arc. Tannehill proved as much last season in Tennessee. 

Mariota just has to hope for an opportunity to validate the Raiders' decision. 

Marcus Mariota and his Motiv8 Foundation are "underwriting 1,000 free grab-and-go meals a day Monday through Friday" at Kauluwela and Palolo Elementary Schools in the 26-year-old quarterback's native Hawaii, according to Ferd Lewis of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Saturday.  

The meal donations will last until at least April 30 for students 18 years old or younger as schools are shut down during the global coronavirus pandemic.

"I've been very blessed to be put in a position to help and I think that is a responsibility of mine," Mariota told Lewis from California, where he is training.

Mariota signed a two-year, $17.6 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this month:

Mariota gets up to $2.4 million if he plays 60% of the snaps in 2020. Another $1.5m is available in per-game playing time and win incentives. Has $10m in those incentives available in 2021. Also $2 million in playoff/Super Bowl incentives each year + $12m in 2021 salary escalator

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 23, 2020

The 2015 second overall pick expressed his excitement to play closer to home after spending the first five years of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans:

‘It’s been almost ten years since I played at home, this is as close as it gets’, #Hawaii’s Marcus Mariota ‘excited’ to sign with #LasVegas #Raiders https://t.co/O7B6TkeMAt @StLouisHawaii #NFLHawaii #9thIsland // https://t.co/9oZimTtTXJ 🤙🏽 pic.twitter.com/xBHLaAUMFy

— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) March 25, 2020

The Raiders finalized their move from Oakland to Las Vegas in late January.

There are two big reasons why the draft is the highlight of the NFL offseason. The first is that all 32 teams have the opportunity to come away as winners. The second is that the draft process is as unpredictable and as drama-drenched as anything the regular season has to offer.

This year's draft will be no different—even if the venue and the presentation are. The Cincinnati Bengals are widely expected to take LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall selection, but what happens after that is anyone's guess.

In fact, there's no guarantee that Cincinnati does take Burrow at No. 1. While it seems like the logical choice, the allure of extra draft picks—the Miami Dolphins own three in this year's first round alone—can change plans in a hurry.

Here we will take a crack at predicting an unpredictable first round while also examining some of the latest predraft buzz.

                           

2020 NFL Mock Draft

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State

3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

4. New York Giants: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

7. Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

11. New York Jets: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

12. Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

16. Atlanta Falcons: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

17. Dallas Cowboys: K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh): Austin Jackson, OT, USC

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams): Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

22. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo): Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

24. New Orleans Saints: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

25. Minnesota Vikings: A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston): Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State

27. Seattle Seahawks: Joshua Jones, OT, Houston

28. Baltimore Ravens: Curtis Weaver, Edge, Boise State

29. Tennessee Titans: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

30. Green Bay Packers: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

31. San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

                   

Draft Will Proceed as Scheduled

Perhaps the biggest draft news to emerge recently is commissioner Roger Goodell's announcement that the event will unfold on schedule. Though the COVID-19 pandemic will affect how the draft is presented, it will still take place from April 23-25.

Goodell wrote the following in a memo to NFL teams, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio:

"Everyone recognizes that public health conditions are highly uncertain and there is no assurance that we can select a different date and be confident that conditions will be significantly more favorable than they are today. I also believe that the Draft can serve a very positive purpose for our clubs, our fans, and the country at large, and many of you have agreed."

According to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, the league plans to hold the draft in a studio setting rather than in front of a crowd of fans. While this will take some of the pageantry away from the draft, it won't diminish the excitement of the process.

                    

Some Are Not So High on Tagovailoa

NBC Sports' Chris Simms recently ranked his top five quarterbacks in this draft class. He had Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa at No. 4—three spots behind Burrow—and it's fair to say that not everyone agreed with his opinion.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports called Simms' ranking of Tagovailoa "bizarre."

Simms cited Tagovailoa's injury concerns—he suffered a fractured and dislocated hip in 2019—as a primary reason to be down on him. Some former NFL talent-evaluators agree.

According to Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, three former general managers believe that Tagovailoa is too big of a risk to be taken in the top five—at least for the Dolphins.

Whether Miami and general manager Chris Grier agree remains to be seen. However, if the Dolphins aren't sold at all on the quarterback's recovery, they could be out on him entirely. With travel and predraft visits banned by the NFL, Miami—along with the other 31 teams—only has combine medicals and online workout videos available with which to gauge the Crimson Tide star's health.

                  

Raiders Can't Be Ruled Out as Quarterback-Seekers

While the Las Vegas Raiders don't appear to be in the market for a quarterback in this year's draft—they have Derek Carr and recently added Marcus Mariota to the mix—it's impossible to rule them out. That's the opinion of one longtime scout.

"[Head coach Jon Gruden] loves quarterbacks and thinks he can get the best out of all of them," the scout told Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller. "Would it surprise me if he fell in love with Jordan Love or Justin Herbert and made a move to get them? Not one bit."

The Raiders own the 12th and 19th picks in Round 1. While those selections likely won't be enough to move up to No. 1, they may allow the Raiders to get into the top 10 for a prospect like Oregon's Herbert or Utah State's Love. There's a possibility one of those two falls outside of the top 10 and into Las Vegas' lap too.

The question is whether Gruden believes that a prospect like Herbert or Love provides more upside than either Carr or Mariota. The Raiders have done a terrific job of addressing needs in free agency, but they can definitely afford to use their first-round picks on positions other than quarterback.

The Las Vegas Raiders are "believed" to have checked in on Tom Brady before the 42-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but other teams' interest in Derek Carr helped convince the Raiders to stand pat, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"At least eight teams inquired about Tom Brady's services, and the Raiders were believed to be one," Fowler reported Wednesday. "But Las Vegas also believes it's not far away and wasn't going to overreact, and the fact other teams would have pounced on a Carr trade reminded the Raiders they had a good player at the position."

The Raiders drafted Carr, who turns 29 Saturday, in the second round (36th overall) in 2014. There has been speculation about his future with the team this offseason.

He threw for a career-high 4,054 yards on a career-best 70.4 completion percentage, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season, the Raiders' last in Oakland before relocating to Las Vegas in January.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore reported in February that there was a "growing sense" around the NFL that teams were "prepared to inquire with [the] Raiders about the possibility of trading for Derek Carr."

The Raiders' quarterback situation seemingly grew more complex when they signed former Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, the 2015 second overall pick, earlier this month:

Mariota gets up to $2.4 million if he plays 60% of the snaps in 2020. Another $1.5m is available in per-game playing time and win incentives. Has $10m in those incentives available in 2021. Also $2 million in playoff/Super Bowl incentives each year + $12m in 2021 salary escalator

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 23, 2020

However, Mariota made clear that Carr is the starter in an interview with KHON-TV on Tuesday (h/t ESPN's Paul Gutierrez):

"First and foremost, this is Derek's team, and I understand that. I understand that going in. ... My priority going into free agency was to be a part of a team that I felt could bring out the best in me. Whatever happens, whatever comes of that, I'm ready for. But I do know, to play starting quarterback in the NFL, to be at that spot, is not an easy job to do. And I think when it comes down to it, a strong, stable supportive quarterback room makes that job a whole lot easier, and that's what we have to do. And I'm going to do my best to support Derek in every possible way that I can; and along with that, I'm just going to try to become the best player that I can be and see where that takes me."

Carr performed significantly better than Mariota in 2019. The 26-year-old threw for 1,203 yards, seven touchdowns and two picks on a 59.4 percent completion rate across seven games (six starts). The Titans benched him for Ryan Tannehill, who led them to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City.

Carr's 62.2 QBR tied Tannehill's for ninth in the league, per ESPN.

Raiders general manager Mike Mayock complimented Carr while speaking with The Athletic's Vic Tafur in January.

"I think Derek stepped forward in Year 2 under Jon Gruden," Mayock said. "His mental capacity to handle what Jon asks him to do, his accuracy, his arm talent … I think he had a better second year under Jon than a first year."

Carr and the Raiders offense could reach another level in 2020. Running back Josh Jacobs excelled for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie last season. The Raiders also have dynamic weapons in the passing game in tight end Darren Waller and receiver Tyrell Williams.

Carr could get another weapon if the Raiders use their No. 12 or No. 19 first-round pick to bolster the receiving corps. However, Tafur reported last Friday that Las Vegas is eyeing a quarterback:

"As far as the upcoming draft goes, the Raiders definitely like Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts — we have covered that in depth — but I don’t think they were happy to see him do so well at the combine. He went from a fourth-round to a second-round projection, and the Raiders have three third-round picks but none in the second. Hurts would not be in the mix to play in 2020, anyway."

Carr is under contract through 2022.

Despite receiving a lucrative contract from the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, Marcus Mariota is operating as if he will be Derek Carr's backup.  

Speaking to KHON-TV (h/t ESPN's Paul Gutierrez), Mariota said "first and foremost" the Raiders are Carr's team and his priority in free agency "was to be a part of a team that I felt could bring out the best in me."

Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Mariota's deal is worth $17.6 million over two years with a $7.5 million fully guaranteed base salary in 2020, but it also includes a number of incentives that could escalate up to $37 million.    

Mariota gets up to $2.4 million if he plays 60% of the snaps in 2020. Another $1.5m is available in per-game playing time and win incentives. Has $10m in those incentives available in 2021. Also $2 million in playoff/Super Bowl incentives each year + $12m in 2021 salary escalator

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 23, 2020

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported in December that Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was considering moving on from Carr due to "a growing frustration with the veteran by the coaching staff, and concerns about how much potential for growth remains."

Carr had a solid season in 2019 with 4,054 yards, 21 touchdowns and a career-high 70.4 completion percentage. 

La Canfora noted Gruden was likely going to look at the 2020 draft class for an upgrade, but Mariota is someone the organization has had a high opinion of in the past. 

Raiders general manager Mike Mayock had Mariota ranked as the top quarterback and No. 5 overall prospect in the 2015 draft when he worked as an NFL Network analyst. 

Mariota is trying to re-establish himself as an NFL quarterback after losing his starting job with the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. The 26-year-old threw for 1,203 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games last season. 

Marcus Mariota's contract with the Las Vegas Raiders includes a number of incentives based not only on his number of snaps but also his performance over the course of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Mariota will receive $7.5 million guaranteed in the first year. What he earns from there will depend heavily on whether he has replaced Derek Carr as the Raiders' starting quarterback.

Mariota gets up to $2.4 million if he plays 60% of the snaps in 2020. Another $1.5m is available in per-game playing time and win incentives. Has $10m in those incentives available in 2021. Also $2 million in playoff/Super Bowl incentives each year + $12m in 2021 salary escalator

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 23, 2020

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network projected Mariota could get $37.5 million if he triggers every incentive.

While he's unlikely to get the full amount, his contract speaks to how fluid the quarterback situation will be in Las Vegas.

Carr has missed only two starts since the Raiders selected him 36th overall in the 2014 draft, yet the three-time Pro Bowler is on shaky ground. His development has stagnated over the last few years, and his deal gives the team an easy out if it wants to move on in 2021.

Vegas would save $19.7 million and eat $2.5 million in dead money if it released Carr prior to June 1, 2021, per Over the Cap.

Mariota was in Carr's shoes heading into the 2019 season. The Tennessee Titans acquired Ryan Tannehill from the Miami Dolphins to provide some competition. Tannehill guided the team to the AFC title game after replacing Mariota, thus sealing the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner's fate in Nashville.

Mariota's agreement with the Raiders works out well for both parties.

His base salary is commensurate with that of an experienced backup. Teddy Bridgewater got nearly $7.3 million from the New Orleans Saints for the 2019 season.

Should Mariota overtake Carr in the depth chart, his compensation will start reflecting his promotion.

And if the 26-year-old exceeds expectations in Nevada, he'll be a free agent in 2022 with the opportunity to secure a lucrative multiyear pact. Bridgewater signed with the Carolina Panthers for $63 million ($33 million guaranteed) over three years, and Tannehill got a four-year, $118 million extension with the Titans.