In going 2-14 last season, Ken Whisenhunt and the Tennessee Titans featured three different starting quarterbacks: Jake Locker (who is now retired), Charlie Whitehurst (a career reserve), and then-rookie Zach Mettenberger. Locker and Whitehurst managed one win apiece, but if there's a future at the quarterback position on the roster in Tennessee right now, it's Mettenberger, who completed 59.6 percent of his passes at 7.9 yards per attempt with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in six starts.
But the Titans also find themselves positioned to address that position in a more significant way in 2015 - and despite the upside that Mettenberger offers, the temptation to add a player with a higher ceiling may be too much to pass up. That was exactly the case for Jimmy Morris of Music City Miracles, who makes the Titans' pick in our 2015 NFL mock draft.
2. Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
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Morris: Earlier this offseason, Ruston Webster said that until you have the quarterback position figured out you have nothing... or something like that. Well, the Titans haven’t had the quarterback position figured out since Steve McNair was cut. Marcus Mariota will fix that.
It will take some time for him to get acclimated to Ken Whisenhunt’s offense after playing in that Oregon system, but he has all of the tools you look for in an NFL quarterback. The Titans have Zach Mettenberger, who can be the stopgap until Mariota is ready to go.
Dan Kadar, SBNation.com: The frequent pick for Tennessee has been USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams, because there are questions about Mariota’s fit in Whisenhunt’s offense. If Tennessee is willing to cater its offense to Mariota’s skills, then it’s a smart pick. If they force Mariota to solely play in the pocket, it’s questionable.
Dan's Top 5 players remaining
- 1. Leonard Williams, DT, USC
- 4. Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
- 5. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
- 6. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
- 7. Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
All picks from this mock draft
Titans picks
- 1-2: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
- 2-33: (coming April 6)
We have one more pick coming your way today, made by Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stay tuned!