Trade talks around Marcus Mariota were hot and heavy a few weeks ago, but it sounds like those conversations have diminished and there has been speculation that the Raiders may end up having to cut him.
So what happened that no one is suddenly as interested in trading for Mariota?
We know the hang-ups have mostly been concerning his contract, but the specific issue with his deal may have come to light on Tuesday. Mariota is reportedly unwilling to re-work his contract to accommodate a trade.
“Marcus Mariota and his camp are refusing to tear up the final year of his deal, that calls for him to be a $10 million backup, or a $21 million starter,” Boston beat writer Greg Bedard reported for the Boston Sports Journal.
And there are good reasons why Mariota might be standing firm on his current deal with the Raiders.
Mariota might want to be released and probably believes he can force his release
If Mariota’s representatives don’t think the Raiders are willing to pay a backup quarterback $10 million, it makes sense to be stubborn and wait out the Raiders (at least for now). If released, Mariota can choose where he goes and his new team won’t have to give up a draft pick. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said last week, if Mariota can sign as a free agent, he figures to get more guaranteed money on a longer-term deal.
Mariota may know where he wants to play next year
It would be a little naive to believe Mariota (by way of his representatives) hasn’t communicated with teams and knows where he wants to play next year. No, that’s not in keeping with the rules of the CBA, but it happens all the time. If Mariota can force his release from the Raiders, he can choose where he plays next year and mostly likely be that team’s undisputed starting quarterback (not having to look over his shoulder).
By the way, the Washington Football Team and Chicago Bears make a lot of sense to be that team.
Mariota is already sitting on a good deal
With the exception of a long-term deal, how can you beat a deal that pays $10 million as a backup and can balloon to around $20 million as a starter?
Mariota has massive incentives in his current deal and there were whispers in December that those incentives (upwards of $1 million per game) may have partially motivated the Raiders to play Carr with a bad groin over a healthy Mariota. Even if the incentives weren’t a factor in the Raiders decision, it had to have been disappointing for Mariota to miss out on the money – especially considering how well he played against the Chargers.
Time will tell how hard Mariota’s camp digs in on his contract as this approach does come with some risk.
What happens if the Raiders keep him and he misses an opportunity to start next year? That scenario could cost Mariota a lot of money. Quarterback-needy teams aren’t going to wait around for months and the Raiders can presumably avoid paying Mariota’s salary by releasing him at any point between now and September.
Would the Raiders consider carrying Mariota into training camp in case an injury or something else might motivate a team to make a desperate offer for him?
You can bet Mariota’s camp is hoping the Raiders won’t make that gamble.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Marcus Mariota is not a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL. Simply because he might be slightly better than the worst quarterback in the NFL does not make either one of them qualified to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. If you look at the game he played in where you said he played so well, he threw crucial interceptions and had crucial interceptions dropped that were easy picks my arthritic grandmother could have caught. No one ever feared playing Marcus Mariota after college. He’s guaranteed to throw the errant pass at least once if not a couple of times at crucial moments in a game and choke. He’s basically a choke artist and that’s why he wasn’t the starter anymore.
Lot’s of lies like CNN MSNBC and the rest of liberal news media
He beat the Andy Ried and Alex Smith Chiefs in the playoffs while Smith was top 3 in the MVP race….and he did it with Harry Douglas and Rishard Matthews as his leading receivers…meaning he took the Titans exactly as far in the playoffs as Tanehill did with AJ brown, Corey Davis and Derek Henry tearing it up….if the Titans didn’t have the worst FG kicking season in league history in 2019…Mariota would have started the season 4-1… Tanehill stepped in on an already good team and played some good games….but he is like Foles for the Eagles or Keenum for the Vikings…a few games of magic…and a fan base who totally took their old QB for granted
Not sure who makes up these fake stories but yeah. WFT wanted to trade Smith for Mariota and no contact has been made yet with the Pats. But fake stories sell these days. The more lies the hotter the story. Our current media sucks
The Raider Beat Down this is the new name for this group. This is supposed to be a Raider news article, the so called reporters don’t have inside information, never talked to a coach, a team member, a scout. Mariota may be unwilling to re – work his contract but you can’t help yourself you have to add that he and his agent are braking rules talking to teams before free agency, but your ok with that. You made it up.
Then you go on and accused the Raiders and Gruden of forcing Derek Carr to play injured just to get out of paying a player. What proof do you have again it’s made up.
You hate Carr you hate Gruden and you hate the Raiders please do the rest of Raider Nation a favor and shut down this crap down.
All I can say is Amen to this! You are spot on…. I think that they love writing heinous articles because us Raiders fans have a passion that just can’t resist clicking on.
Raiders Should GAMBLE On Him Being Worth At LEAST A#3 Rounder or Keep Him. It Would Be Foolish to Release Him.
MARCUS Marriota is very much a Starting Caliber-Quarterback in the NFL!!! Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr was sooo afraid to lose he’s starting position from Marriota! Can you Imagine Marriota won against the Chargers, MARCUS MARRIOTA would have took the Raiders to the SUPERBOWL!!! Derek Carr will never ever take the Raiders to the SUPERBOWL! To much excuses about the Defense! I’m just telling you the truth! Derek Carr amf the Raiders is running by Fresno State! Thos is not Las Vegas Raiders, it’s called Fresno State Raiders! You can say thr same old things about Derek Carr, but he will never get you to the SUPERBOWL! Just tje plau off than Chickens out woth injuries!!! Yes you can say Derek Carr is a good player but in realistic Not Good enough as MARCUS MARRIOTA! And thats True Facts!!! No one wants Derek Carr if you ever try to trade Derek Carr because he couldn’t will SUPERBOWLS only play offs! Have many years woth this joker wanna be? If Tom Brandy came to Raiders, Raiders say Derek Carr is better? what a Joke!
MARCUS Marriota is very much a Starting Caliber-Quarterback in the NFL!!! Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr was sooo afraid to lose he’s starting position from Marriota! Can you Imagine Marriota won against the Chargers, MARCUS MARRIOTA would have took the Raiders to the SUPERBOWL!!! Derek Carr will never ever take the Raiders to the SUPERBOWL! To much excuses about the Defense! I’m just telling you the truth! Derek Carr Raiders is Fresno State! not Las Vegas Raiders! You can say the same old things about Derek Carr, but he will never get you to the SUPERBOWL! Just the play off than Chickens out with injuries!!! Yes you can say Derek Carr is a good player but in realistic Not Good enough as MARCUS MARRIOTA! And thats Truth Facts!!! No one wants Derek Carr if you ever try to trade Derek Carr because he couldn’t will SUPERBOWLS only play offs! Have many years with this joker wanna be? If Tom Brandy came to Raiders, Raiders say Derek Carr is better than Tom Brandy? what a Joke! Like Marriota said, it’s Derek Carr team! LOL 😆
MARCUS Marriota is very much a Starting Caliber-Quarterback in the NFL!!! Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr was sooo afraid to lose he’s starting position from Marriota! Can you Imagine Marriota won against the Chargers, MARCUS MARRIOTA would have took the Raiders to the SUPERBOWL!!! Derek Carr will never ever take the Raiders to the SUPERBOWL! To much excuses about the Defense! I’m just telling you the truth! Derek Carr Raiders is Fresno State! not Las Vegas Raiders! You can say the same old things about Derek Carr, but he will never get you to the SUPERBOWL! Just the play off than Chickens out with injuries!!! Yes you can say Derek Carr is a good player but in realistic Not Good enough as MARCUS MARRIOTA! And thats Truth Facts!!! No one wants Derek Carr if you ever try to trade Derek Carr because he couldn’t will SUPERBOWLS only play offs! Have many years with this joker wanna be? If Tom Brandy came to Raiders, Raiders say Derek Carr is better than Tom Brandy? what a Joke! Like Marriota said, it’s Derek Carr team! LOL 😆
I would keep Mariota for as long as we can to try and get something 4 him if it doesn’t cost anything why not? Mariota don’t want to re-work his contact trying to hold out make him wait as long as you can
Raiders have plenty of other cap cuts so no need to rush on Mariota who still has a lot of value. Sit down and relax.
Having a good back up is VERY important for ANY Team in the event that there starter goes out. That being said it has to be a trade that makes sense as far as what we get for him to let him walk.. I truly believe that we should keep him!!!???