Tennessee Titans: Is Marcus Mariota’s seat getting hot?
By Erik Lambert
Nobody has thought about it to this point because there was no reason, but the Tennessee Titans may have just dropped a not-so-subtle hint on it.
Could Marcus Mariota actually be in trouble of losing his job in the near future? It sounds crazy at first. He’s their franchise, the former #2 overall pick who was playing like a budding star back in 2016. There’s no way they’d be considering that, right? Well, as anybody would know, things change fast in the NFL. It’s easy to forget a few factors that are in play here, and it starts with the two men at the top.
GM Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel were not with the team in 2015 when Mariota was drafted. Neither of them has that critical connection to him. They didn’t sign off on him becoming the franchise quarterback. Those were two other men. Their evaluations of the young quarterback could differ significantly, especially since they come from the Tom Brady camp in New England.
Then there’s the fact that Mariota just hasn’t looked the same since his standout season a couple years ago. In 2017 he threw more interceptions (15) than touchdowns (13) despite the team making the playoffs. It didn’t look much better in the opener against Miami where he barely managed 103 yards with two interceptions. This along with his persistent string of health issues may explain why the Titans are so open to giving Blaine Gabbert more playing time.
Titans’ HC Mike Vrabel said he anticipates that there is a scenario that both QBs, Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert, are likely to play Sunday vs Texans.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 14, 2018
Mariota slump might compel Titans to seek out 2019 options
One must not forget that the subject of Mariota’s contract is about to become an issue for Tennessee. He’ll be in the final year next season if they enact the fifth-year option. Odds are they’ll want to extend him long-term before that if they’re convinced he’s their future. Do the Titans really want to sink that kind of money, which could sniff $30 million a year into a player that isn’t performing like a true difference-maker right now?
Probably not. Odds are the team is playing the wait-and-see approach. They want to see if offensive coordinator Matt Lafleur, a respected QB specialist, can get him turned around. That’s going to prove difficult with Mariota’s health status as well as the absence of both starting offensive tackles. It’s not the most enviable situation to be in.
The Titans may have a gigantic decision to make towards the end of this season. One that could alter the fate of their franchise, for better or worse.