Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz became the first quarterback dominoes to fall in the 2021 NFL offseason. This led people to have the impression that a fury of activity was still to come. Yet after those two quick jabs, things have settled down. No action has happened and even the steady flow of rumors has dried up. Deshaun Watson? Sam Darnold? Their teams seem to be in no hurry to make a move. If any at all. So what about Marcus Mariota?
Plenty of Chicago Bears may have an invested interest in the 27-year old. At one point in time, he looked like a rising star in Tennessee. He played like a Pro Bowler in 2016 and led his team to a playoff victory in 2017. Then things just seemed to fall apart until he was benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill in 2019. Last season he spent the year as Derek Carr’s backup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Now the word is out they’re interested in trading him.
Why do this? Mostly because the Raiders are in a tough salary cap crunch. Currently, they’re projected to be $18 million over the cap this year. So keeping a high-priced backup like Mariota isn’t fiscally responsible. Not when they have a ton of work to do on the rest of their roster. This would explain the keen interest in trading in him. Yet after some initial momentum in that direction, things have dried up.
Why? Ian Rapoport of NFL Network explained. It has a lot to do with his contract. While Mariota is due around $11 million this season, there are incentives built in the deal where it goes up another $12 million. So a total hovering around $23 million. That is pricey for a guy who hasn’t played good football in a long time. Teams don’t seem willing to pay it.
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That is why Rapoport theorizes that the Raiders may just end up cutting the quarterback instead.
From NFL Now: #Raiders QB Marcus Mariota has generated a lot of interest from teams, but the max value of his contract has been an issue for teams. Trade talk has slowed considerably. Could he be eventually released? pic.twitter.com/pPlwOSS3Yk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2021
Bears would like this scenario if they want Marcus Mariota
Ideally for them finding a starting quarterback without surrendering a draft pick is preferable. This way they can focus the draft on building up the rest of the roster with young talent. Mariota getting cut would present this opportunity. Would he be willing to come here? Of course he would. The Bears would likely be one of the few teams who give him a chance to start.
People will ask why the team didn’t pursue him last year if they want him now. That answer is simple. Mitch Trubisky isn’t here anymore. He and Mariota have the same agent. There was no way they were going to be on the same roster together. With Trubisky gone, that is no longer an issue. Chicago is loaded with coaches known for their quarterback expertise. GM Ryan Pace was reportedly a big fan of Mariota back in 2015. Head coach Matt Nagy has a ton of respect for him as well, having been his victim when the QB won his playoff game in 2017.
Is this the road the Bears ultimately go down though?
Probably not. Marcus Mariota is still relatively young. He’s a tough guy who has played some good football in the past. The problem is his game mirrors Trubisky a little too closely. Great mobility and a likable personality but struggles to diagnose defenses and suffers from inconsistent accuracy. It’s hard to imagine the Bears convincing themselves he’ll be much of a difference.