The San Diego Chargers may consider a Philip Rivers trade to get Marcus Mariota in the draft and if Rivers is traded to the Tennessee Titans for the second overall pick, San Diego will certainly take Mariota and those rumors are starting to gain traction, with Pro Football Talk and Peter King at the MMQB analyzing the pros and cons of the move.
The Chargers have been mentioned as one of the teams interested in Mariota all offseason and they now could look at making a trade up to get him. According to Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego, the Chargers are "serious" about their interest in Mariota and after working him out this week, the team could consider making a move. According to Pro Football Talk, the Chargers and Rivers have not come to an agreement on a new contract, meaning the QB is playing out the final year of his deal as things stand.
The uncertainty with Rivers and his contract could lead the Chargers to consider making a move and they could have some competition for Mariota. According to Adam Schefter, the Cleveland Browns, NY Jets, Chicago Bears and Chargers are all interested in Mariota, while the Titans also may consider taking the QB. The Titans have a need at quarterback even with Zach Mettenberger
According to Pro Football Talk, the team worked out Mariota this week and was impressed at what they saw in Eugene. The team has the number 17 pick in the draft and that means moving up a long way to get Mariota. Winston is very likely going to the Bucs and that makes Mariota the next best option at QB. Rivers will be 33 years old this season and while he has been very strong and productive for the Chargers, the team could be looking at the future and their move to LA as factors.
Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego has been all over the story and he writes that the team should trade Rivers and get Mariota if they think he is the real deal. Rivers could be intriguing for the Titans, as head coach Ken Whisenhunt was his OC in San Diego in 2013. Rivers had one of his best seasons that year, setting a career high in completion percentage and throwing for 32 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions.
King wrote about the deal and analyzed what the Chargers could give up and he determined that the main issue is about whether Mariota can be a great QB in the NFL. King writes that the deal makes sense in that circumstance, as Rivers has been a very good quarterback during his career and is not easily replaceable. The team could try and make a move without Rivers being in the trade but that would likely cost some major draft picks after what the Redskins gave up to take RG3.
Mariota has question marks and the Chargers will have to battle with teams like the Browns and Jets. But what those teams do not have is a QB the caliber of Rivers and that could lead to the Titans considering San Diego over other options.
