Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans are still hammering out a contract heading into training camp this summer and reports have the two sides working out details over offsets and possibly surfing and as things get closer to the start of workouts, there will be pressure to get the number two pick into camp, as he is expected to be the starter.
Mariota is the last rookie left in the first round that has not signed a deal and Pro Football Talk reports that "offsets" in the deal are the issue, not surfing, which had been previously reported. Mike Florio reports that the main point for the Titans is whether or not the contract will have "offset language for the fully-guaranteed payments to be made from 2015 through 2018." Basically Mariota wants to get the chance to keep his guaranteed money for the Titans, while the team wants credit if he is cut and moves to another team.
Obviously the team is hoping to have Mariota for years as a successful quarterback, but they also want protection in case that doesn't work out. Florio writes that with training camp still a couple weeks away, the sides are waiting for the other to "blink". The offset language is a standard thing in most NFL contracts and the two sides likely will find a compromise once training camp gets closer.
Mariota is coming in with Zach Mettenberger on the depth chart and it's likely that he will get a leg up in the competition in training camp. The Titans like Mettenberger, but they were one of the worst teams in the league last year and really have nothing to lose by starting Mariota. Mariota comes in after a distinguished career at Oregon where he threw for 42 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.
Mariota's contract was reportedly being held up over some issues about surfing, but ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky refuted that report with a source close to the situation. The source said there is "no truth at all" about the surfing issue and that is not what is delaying the contract being completed.
Jameis Winston is considered to be the better professional quarterback than Mariota and if Mariota misses time in camp while dealing with a contract issue, it could hamper his development. Mariota is considered an accurate quarterback, but the college game is different from the NFL and that is something he will have to adjust to. The Titans have Justin Hunter, Kendall Wright and Harry Douglas at wide receiver and the team also added David Cobb to join Bishop Sankey at running back.
Check here for more on the Titans and Mariota's contract situation.
