jetrider Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 By Adam Kilgore December 13 at 7:30 AM The Washington Post Marcus Mariota will spend Saturday being feted in New York, likely hoisting the Heisman Trophy inside the Nokia Theater, the pinnacle of one college football’s greatest careers. He elevated the Oregon Ducks into a national power, going 35-4 as he fired 101 touchdown passes against 12 interceptions. Throughout his dazzling career, whether throwing darts or floating out of the pocket or dictating the pace of the game, Mariota exuded control. On Sunday, Mariota will receive another reminder about how his control will soon slip away. His traits as a quarterback – accuracy, quick decisions, smarts, long-striding speed – will likely make him the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, presuming the junior declares a year early. For that, barring a Hail Mary of a trade, Mariota will earn the right to play for a franchise trying – and probably failing – to dig itself out from under a train wreck. The teams in play for Mariota have become clear. The Buccaneers, Raiders, Jaguars, Titans and Jets are 2-11. Assuming at least one of those five teams lose their remaining three games, the 3-10 Redskins are out of the running for the top pick. Mariota will avoid that flaming dumpster, but it only means he’ll end up in a different kind of mess. Some quarterbacks at the top of the NFL can make their own breaks; Andrew Luck could have made any team instantaneously credible. But many are dependent on their situations. Sam Bradford stands as a bust right now, but what if he had been picked first the year before and spent his career, like Matthew Stafford, throwing to Calvin Johnson? Would Robert Griffin III be broken, benched and besmirched if another quarterback-needy team had traded for the right to pick him second? Mariota will soon find out his fate. By definition, a first overall pick will be placed in a lousy situation. But some are better than others. Here, in order of best to worst, are the teams who could have the chance to take Mariota: Oakland: The Raiders already mangled one first-overall quarterback this decade in JaMarcus Russell, and their roster and front-office infrastructure are both nightmares. But Mariota should root for the Raiders to land the top spot, because it wouldn’t necessarily mean he would play for them. The Raiders don’t need a quarterback after 2014 second-round pick Derek Carr established himself as a capable force at the center of a calamitous team. And so the Raiders are the team most likely to deal the pick, which would mean Mariota may go to a team in decent position with a superior surrounding cast. It would take a haul of draft picks, but teams like the Cardinals, Bills and Bears may be enticed to trade up rather than gamble Jameis Winston will fall to them. Jacksonville: The Jaguars drafted Blake Bortles third overall last season, which also makes them a candidate to trade the pick. Even if the Jaguars took Mariota, their rookie trio of wide receivers – Allen Hurns, Marquis Lee, Allen Robinson – offers at least a hint of promise. Their defense has made strides under Coach Gus Bradley. Tennessee: The Titans have been more competitive than their record suggests, and aside from quarterback, they have the makings of a team that could rise. Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright would give Mariota a solid receiver combination. The Titans drafted tackles, Chance Warmack and Taylor Lewan, in the first round each of the past two seasons, and commitment to building an offensive line is the best thing a rookie quarterback could ask for. The biggest red flag is Ken Whisenhunt, who has burned through young quarterbacks in Arizona and Tennessee, unable to develop any of them. Tampa Bay: For the past two years, the Bucs have been tabbed as preseason darkhorses. And for the past two years, rancid quarterback play has pulled them to the bottom of the NFL. And so maybe the right quarterback could turn them into a contender. The pleasure of throwing to beastly wide receiver Mike Evans, a candidate for rookie of the year, would make Tampa Bay appealing. The offensive line would make it terrifying. New York Jets: The only nice thing to say is that Mariota would start with a clean slate. The Jets are likely to fire Coach Rex Ryan and could part ways with Jeff Idzik, too. But given the team’s recent history, what hope would Mariota have that bumbling owner Woody Johnson could hire the right replacements? As a bonus, Mariota would see his inevitable struggles splashed across the tabloid back pages. (Our prediction: “DUCK!”) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Suck for the Duck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg3 Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Very brilliant report. Fails to take current strength of schedule or remaining schedule into account, so the thing is somewhere between lazy and useless. Sorry to read about Jeff Idzik probably getting fired. Imagine..two Ryan and two Idzik.brothers all fired on the same day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetrider Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Very brilliant report. Fails to take current strength of schedule or remaining schedule into account, so the thing is somewhere between lazy and useless. Sorry to read about Jeff Idzik probably getting fired. Imagine..two Ryan and two Idzik.brothers all fired on the same day LOL! BTW, teams are listed in order of best to worst situation (for Mariota). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenPond Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 The Cardinals trading up for the possible #1 Draft pick?! They probably will have one the latest pick in the first round. Sounds not really attractive for the Raiders to pick that late. And do the Bills even have their first round pick, because of the Sammy Watkins trade?I guess not. So what can they offer the Raiders? Their '16, '17 and '18 first round pick? Would love to see them trade away first round picks for a whole decade lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larz Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 bumbling owner Woody Johnson "even among misfits we're misfits" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCarl40 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Jeff Idzik. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 This article lost all credibility with the name Jeff.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxgreen Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 bumbling owner Woody Johnson "even among misfits we're misfits" You don't know that as far as you know...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard King Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 This article lost all credibility with the name Jeff.... Splitting hairs...Idzik is the definition of lame duck now anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 If a team is looking to trade out of the first pick of the draft, they're unlikely to want to trade out of the top five or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Sorry to read about Jeff Idzik probably getting fired. Imagine..two Ryan and two Idzik.brothers all fired on the same day lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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