Buccaneers select Jameis Winston No. 1 overall #TBpick pic.twitter.com/GHAxRCywMk
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 1, 2015
.@WinTheDay QB Marcus Mariota has arrived at Saint Thomas Sports Park for his pre-draft visit.#TitansDraft pic.twitter.com/YBZkJq1ukc
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 9, 2015
Jameis Winston Vs. Marcus Mariota Revisited
Leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft, there was a brief period of time when some people thought that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would select Oregon’s Marcus Mariota over Florida State’s Jameis Winston. However, that time was short lived. After seeing Winston work out multiple times, Tampa Bay’s scouts were treated to a unique pro day routine. Winston directed his own 102-throw script, and although it drew mixed reviews overall, the Buccaneers were satisfied knowing they had their guy. After Winston’s pro day, Marcus Mariota became the focal point of the Tennessee Titans. The organization knew they needed a reliable quarterback, something they hadn’t had since Steve McNair.
After going number one and two overall to Tampa Bay and Tennessee respectively, Winston and Mariota would meet in week 1 of the 2015 NFL season. The game was a 42-14 destruction of the Buccaneers at the hands of Mariota and the Titans. Winston’s first NFL pass was actually intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Ouch. Moreover, Mariota threw four touchdown passes in the victory, and looked fantastic in doing so. After one week Tampa Bay may or may not have begun to second guess their decision. Either way, after year one the Buccaneers are very happy with their guy.
Jameis Winston started all 16 games for the Buccaneers and finished the season with 4,042 passing yards, 28 total touchdowns (22 passing, 6 Rushing), and a quarterback rating of 84.2. The highlight of his year came in week 11 on the road against Philadelphia. Winston threw for five touchdowns against the Eagles in Tampa Bay’s 45-17 win. Marcus Mariota started 12 games for the Tennessee Titans during the 2015 NFL season. He missed the other four due to injury. He finished the year with 2,818 passing yards, 21 total touchdowns (19 passing, 2 rushing), and a quarterback rating of 91.5. His best game of the year (other than the victory over Winston) was a 34-28 thriller of a game against the Saints in week 9.
Heading into the 2016 season, both Winston and Mariota have adjustments to make within their game in order to improve as quarterbacks and leaders in the locker room. Winston has been praised for being a gym rat, but has a checkered past when it comes to off the field antics. If he can keep his head on straight, the sky is the limit. Marcus Mariota, on the other hand, has always been the golden boy. Very clean cut and respectable, his only problem is staying on the field. His athleticism, vision as a rusher, and pure downfield speed make it very tempting for him to take off and run when his first couple of options aren’t open. Now that DeMarco Murray is in town, it could help accelerate his growth process and keep him healthy week to week. Needless to say, it will be an interesting dynamic to follow along with and see how these two franchise quarterbacks mature during their second year in the league.
