NFL trade rumors: Non-Aaron Rodgers QB trades that can still happen

4. Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders

Marcus Mariota’s market in free agency must not have materialized the way he’d initially hoped for.

The former number two pick in the 2016 NFL Draft signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason worth $17.6 million.

Mariota was a mildly hot name among the NFL trade rumors earlier in the 2021 offseason, but nothing materialized. Likely due to his larger 2021 cap number, Mariota wasn’t moved and signed a restructured deal to remain with the Las Vegas Raiders at one year, $3.5 million.

That’s more than a 50 percent reduction from his previous AAV and I think it could be a clear indicator that the Raiders are willing to move on from Mariota for the right price.

Nathan Peterman behind Derek Carr doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, so the Raiders may need some insurance, but do they really want to lose Mariota for nothing after the season when they could possibly get a fourth or fifth-round pick for him now?

I think by the time the preseason is done, depending on how Mariota plays, there could be a bidding war from a handful of teams for him.

He’s still just 27, and Mariota has been a Pro Bowl player in the past. Can he recapture that magic? Can he stay consistently healthy?

Some team will take the gamble for $1.75 million in base salary.