We have not heard much about free agent quarterback Marcus Mariota this offseason, save for some speculation based more on perceived fit than anything else. Now, however, we have something more concrete.
Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (subscription required) writes that Mariota is generating the most buzz as the Colts’ next QB now that Indianapolis has traded Carson Wentz to the Commanders. Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick of the Titans in the 2015 draft, showed some promise during his five years in Tennessee, including a 2016 campaign in which he threw for 26 TDs against nine interceptions and rushed for 349 yards and a pair of scores. But Ryan Tannehill supplanted Mariota as the Titans’ starter midway through the 2019 season, and Mariota has spent the last two years with the Raiders as Derek Carr‘s backup.
He garnered some trade interest last offseason, and it appears as if the structure of his Las Vegas contract was the only real obstacle to a deal. Quarterback-needy teams likely view him as at least a capable bridge starter to a younger prospect, and Graziano’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, reports that Mariota is open to such a scenario.
The Colts have also been connected to the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo and the Eagles’ Gardner Minshew in recent days, though obviously signing Mariota would allow them to acquire a Wentz replacement without sacrificing any draft capital. Interestingly, Graziano also says some in the industry believe Indy could be a landing spot for Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Fowler reports that the Vikings are truly torn on what to do with Cousins. Extending him would mean committing more years and dollars to a player who has only led the team to one playoff berth in four seasons, but retaining him without an extension would mean carrying a $45MM cap charge for 2022, which hinders the rest of the club’s roster-building efforts. On the other hand, trading him leaves first-year HC Kevin O’Connell without a proven QB to work with.
Regardless of what the Vikings decide to do with Cousins, the Colts are clearly a key team to watch in the non-Deshaun Watson sector of the quarterback market.
Sure feels good to be a Broncos fan (finally).
Minnesota should try to trade Cousins to any team that they can and trade for Gardner Minshew. I don’t know if he’s start, but he’s provide competition for Kellen Mond.
Might as well get Case Keenun back if they’re going to get a backup quarterback like Minshew.
As a Colts fan, I’d be ok with Mariota and maybe drafting Sam Howell
Why would they want a QB the Titans dumped and were immediately better after he was gone?
Unless Minnesota can pull off a trade for D Watson, Cousins isn’t going anywhere.
maybe a 3 team deal works—Min gets watson, indy gets cousins and hou gets the picks indy gave Min for cousins plus some
You’re “plus some” would have to be high draft picks from Minnesota because you don’t get Watson and only give up Cousins.
Colts: trade for Gardner Minshew