The Oakland Raiders Need To Auction Off Marcus Mariota

Every week that Marcus Mariota makes another statement for putting his name on the Heisman trophy is another reason the Oakland Raiders need to feel excited.  No, not because they hold the #1 pick and would be able to draft.  More because they hold the #1 pick as the golden ticket to drafting him and a slew of quarterback-needy teams lining up behind them on the board for 2015.

It stands to reason that the Silver and Black have the perfect opportunity to flip the top pick in a blockbuster trade that should net them a slew of extra picks.  At least one team will want to move up for Mariota.  Why wouldn’t they?  The Ducks leader is playing out of his mind.

• 3,783 passing yards
• 68.3% passes completed
• 52 total touchdowns
• 2 interceptions

There isn’t a thing about his game that is bothersome save for the nitpicking idea that he’s not vocal enough as a leader.  Based on how Oregon has played lately, it doesn’t seem to matter.  They are fully in the hunt for a national title and Mariota is the reason why.

The Oakland Raiders have to see the value in auctioning him off to the highest bidder.  It could net them a similar package of picks the Rams received for Robert Griffin III.  That infusion of draft help could finally set the team up to really get this much-maligned organization set on the right track.

Unless they blink of course and take Mariota for themselves.