/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66510530/usa_today_10273299.0.jpg)
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur tweeted late on Monday that the Las Vegas Raiders are closing in on a contract with quarterback Marcus Mariota. Tafur notes that he had linked the Raiders to Mariota early on Monday and so it would be interesting to think he’d double down on that without confidence that a deal would be announced soon.
Later on Monday, it was confirmed by Vincent Bonsignore that the Raiders were signing Mariota.
The @Raiders have come to terms with Marcus Mariota
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) March 17, 2020
Wrote this morning the #Raiders were set to sign Marcus Mariota as a backup to Derek Carr with upside. (Much like Titans did with Tannehill a year ago behind Mariota.)
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 17, 2020
They are closing in on that now.
While rumors had swirled around about Las Vegas targeting a quarterback to replace or compete with starter Derek Carr, the Mariota signing would point closer to the approach of giving the team a high-end veteran backup to add to the fray. Mariota was the second overall pick in the 2015 draft but he was never able to build on an encouraging two-year start with the Tennessee Titans.
After a pair of horrendous games against the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, plus an injury, Mariota was replaced by Ryan Tannehill and never recovered his place with the starters. Tannehill recently agreed to a four-year, $118 million contract with the Titans. Whenever a Mariota deal is announced, it will be for less than that.
Back when he did his “QB Camp” show on ESPN, Gruden had Mariota on and raved about how the athletic Heisman Trophy winner ran the “Bubble Y Over” bubble screen option play while at Oregon.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 17, 2020
Mayock was the NFL Network draft guru in 2015 and ranked Mariota as the top quarterback , ahead of Jameis Winston: "He reads combination routes, takes tremendous care of the football and he wins games."
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 17, 2020
Loading comments...