Las Vegas Signs Their Backup Quarterback, Marcus Mariota

By Jordan Long

NFL teams are now allowed to agree to contracts with free agents.   These deals are not official until tomorrow once free agency opens at 2 P.M. Mountain Time when the NFL new year begins.  Rumors were the Las Vegas Raiders were interested in quarterback Tom Brady.   They decided to be out of the Brady sweepstakes and agreed to a contract with another quarterback, Marcus Mariota.  Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced.

                Mariota has NFL experience.  Tennessee drafted him #2 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft and Mariota became the starter.  He was a below-average quarterback with a record of 29-32.  Tennessee managed to make the postseason with him once, 2017.  That year they knocked off Kansas City in the Wild Card round before losing to the New England Patriots.

                This past season, Mariota started the first 6 games for the Titans.  It was a year to forget with 1,203 passing yards.  He was able to find his teammates open for touchdowns with 7.  Mariota didn’t take chances throwing the ball into double coverage with 2 interceptions.  The Titans were a disappointing 2-4 with him as the starter even though it wasn’t entirely his fault.  The defense couldn’t stop teams from scoring.

                In week 6 against the Denver Broncos, Mariota lost his starting job.  With 4:49 left in the 3^rd quarter, the Titans decided to turn the game over to Ryan Tannehill.  Mariota was 7 of 18 passing for 63 yards and 2 interceptions.  Tannehill ended the game 13 of 16 passing for 144 yards and 1 interception.  Tennessee was shutout 16-0.  After this, Tannehill guided the Titans to a record of 7-3, reaching the playoffs.  Their season ended in the AFC Championship Game with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

                The Titans knew they were going to move on from Mariota.   The Raiders were looking for a backup quarterback.  They wanted one with NFL knowledge.  Mariota is their guy.

                Mariota is expected to be the backup quarterback during training camp.  The Raiders have a starter in Derek Carr.   It is possible that if Mariota outperforms Carr, Mariota will be the starter.  It will come down to preseason.  No matter what, Las Vegas has upgraded the quarterback position.