Every NFL Draft always brings its own sense of intrigue regarding the possibility of teams making deals to move up or down in the first round. In 2015, a lot of talk has been focused on the second pick of the draft, currently held by the Tennessee Titans. Could there be a few teams coveting that selection to the point of engineering a bombshell trade?
We’ve all heard the similar refrain. If you don’t have a franchise quarterback you’re not getting very far in this league. It’s a situation that has seen certain teams left in the postseason wilderness for years on end. With seemingly more pressure than ever to win and win now, head coaches and general managers may be forced into an increasing number of brash draft day decisions.
There’s also the case of the dependable yet aging quarterback with playoff experience that could be dangled in front of the team with a higher position in the first round. The sweetener, per se, is more draft picks, perhaps even multiple first-rounders spanning this year and the next. If Tennessee isn’t sold on whoever is available between Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota (likely the latter), they could be forced into exchanging the selection for a big name veteran and a potential boatload of additional selections to help build the team for the future.
With the 2015 NFL Draft slated to get underway tonight at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL (the first time since 1965 the draft hasn’t been held in New York City), are we in store for a surprise? Will a blockbuster deal involving the second pick of the draft get put together? Which teams might be involved, other than Tennessee of course?
Who’s Going to Make the 2nd Pick of the 2015 NFL Draft?
Tennessee Titans
When all is set and done, the rumors and hearsay about this pick being in play could turn out to be all for naught. Tennessee makes the second pick of the draft as expected, whether it’s Mariota or someone else, and everyone walks away as if they never once surmised the Titans were going to trade it away. It’s hard to believe, though, that if they stay at number two they pick anyone other than the 2014 Heisman Trophy Winner.
Last year was as bad as bad can get for the Titans franchise. Their 2-14 record was the worst in 21 years when they were still the Houston Oilers. Their average scoring margin was -11.5, second-worst in the league. Neither Jake Locker nor Zach Mettenberger could get much going at quarterback and both were highly injury prone. The position received added upheaval with Locker’s sudden retirement announcement.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt is under an enormous amount of pressure for someone entering only his second year with the team. It’s hard to believe that a little more than six years ago, he was a Ben Roethlisberger fourth quarter drive away from winning Super Bowl XLIII with the Arizona Cardinals. By the way, who was his quarterback that year? It was a 37-year-old Kurt Warner.
But don’t worry, it’s not like I’m implying anything about any sort of imminent actions on the part of the Titans organization, am I?
San Diego Chargers
Which brings me to those teams who may actually be interested in trading up. First up is San Diego. Phillip Rivers will be entering the final year of his existing contract in 2015. There has been talk of him and the team working to get an extension done. Having said that, how does the recent news of Los Angeles approving the construction of an NFL stadium to potentially house both the Chargers and Raiders play into this?
Rivers told the San Diego Union-Tribune in effect that the Los Angeles situation brings up a lot of “uncertainty” that has made him wary of committing beyond 2015. Whether or not a deal is even possible that could bring the 33-year-old to Tennessee a year early remains to be seen. Still, Rivers hails from Decatur, AL, in the north part of the state and a mere two-hour drive from Nashville. Let’s also not forget about Whisenhunt’s history with older quarterbacks.
There are two major hurdles to clear if Rivers and the Chargers think it’s in their best mutual interest to part ways. Firstly, San Diego picks 17th in the first round this year. Next, they only have six picks over the course of the entire draft. The Chargers would likely have to fork over a 2015 and 2016 first-round pick in addition to a few more for them to be able to move up.
Chicago Bears
From the standpoint of the actual draft, the Bears are in a little bit better shape than San Diego since they have the seventh overall pick. Nevertheless, much like the Chargers they only have six picks this year and new head coach John Fox would likely be accused of “mortgaging the team’s future” if he decides to move on from Jay Cutler, move up five slots, and take Mariota.
There also is the whole issue of Cutler’s contract. The deal he signed in 2013 contains $25.5 million in guarantees over the next two years. The Bears would be swallowing a ton of money and the Titans would be bringing a massive cap hit onto their payroll. That said, they currently have the highest cap room in the league at just over $25.3 million.
Cutler played his college ball in Nashville at Vanderbilt so it would be an “I’m coming home” kind of moment. Similar to the Chargers, they’re looking at a 2015 & 2016 first round pick as well as a late-round selection or two as well.
Philadelphia Eagles
We all know Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has not been one to shy away from some wheeling and dealing this offseason. Ever since he made the move to trade away a capable starter in Nick Foles to St. Louis for the seemingly always injured Sam Bradford, he had us all wondering if he was finished. Was there another trick up his sleeve? Then he signed Tim Tebow and we were all like…huh?
If the mad scientist isn’t done yet concocting a scheme to reunite himself with Mariota, he has a long way to go. Let’s not kid ourselves. Bradford isn’t exactly Rivers. Plus, the Titans have to sell hope to their fan base given their abysmal 2014 campaign. You would be able to do so much more by drafting Mariota than by acquiring Bradford, perhaps another player on the Eagles roster, and a whole bunch of draft picks. The Eagles have eight to offer and would probably have to trade away their first round pick in 2016, but this is still a pretty far-fetched scenario.
Sal Pal says that Chargers are slightly ahead of Eagles in bidding for No. 2 pick solely because of QB Phillip Rivers
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) April 29, 2015
Cleveland Browns
Then there’s the potential wild card to end all wild cards: the Cleveland Browns. Early Wednesday afternoon, a report from ESPN’s Pat McManamon surfaced that the franchise was preparing to offer Tennessee both their first round picks (12th and 19th) in exchange for that second spot.
Cleveland Browns want Marcus Mariota, make offer to Titans to trade up: #NFLdraft rumors http://t.co/LML8IOZYQu pic.twitter.com/rNkURdOKjf
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) April 29, 2015
But is Mariota not the only quarterback on the Browns radar? Other sources are indicating that we could be on the verge of a complicated interplay between Cleveland and those previously discussed Eagles over none other than Bradford.
https://twitter.com/JaysonBraddock/status/593633952834793472
It hasn’t even been a year since the Browns drafted Johnny Manziel as their quarterback of the future. The fact that we’re even talking about these types of scenarios speaks to the amount of confidence the Cleveland organization has in him. And let’s not forget they also signed 35-year-old Josh McCown to a three-year $14 million contract. The same Josh McCown who threw 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for Tampa Bay last season.
Look, I’m not one to wish ill on anyone and I wish Manziel all the best as he exits rehab and tries to get his playing career on solid footing. But when rumors abound about a quarterback possibly coming in to replace you who has been a relative non-factor as a pro and has torn his left ACL twice during his career, that’s not exactly a positive indictment on the positive trajectory of your own.
Regardless, the lead up to the 2015 NFL Draft certainly has an added level of spiciness to it with all these recent developments. We shall certainly see if any of these potential scenarios plays out in actuality, or if normalcy reigns and Tennessee remains on the clock at pick number two.
Main Photo:
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 12: Quarterback Marcus Mariota #8 of the Oregon Ducks looks on in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
