#5 The Indianapolis Colts
Believe it or not, Marcus Mariota might not even get a starting spot and could just end being a backup quarterback somewhere else. For example, the Indianapolis Colts took a gamble on former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, claim that they hope this ends their revolving door quarterback issue. Whether that ends up being the case or not remains to be seen, but it would make sense for the Colts to sign Mariot as a trusty backup for Wentz
This is just one example of Mariota staying in a backup role, and there are various other scenarios that could play out in that direction.
#4 The Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are another one of those teams in transition, and it doesn’t help that they are competing in a division with Tom Brady in it. In all honesty, this would probably be a worst-case scenario for Marcus Mariota, especially with how bad they seem on both sides of the ball but they are in need of a quarterback with Teddy Bridgewater’s deal being up. That means there could be an opening for Mariota to make the team his own and give the organization someone to build around.
#3 The Texans
Deshaun Watson is reportedly looking for a change of scenery in 2022, and it could be a chance for Marcus Mariota to take advantage. Then again, the Houston Texans will most likely be in a rebuilding mode next season, meaning that Mariota might have to settle for helping bring the team forward. While that might not sound as glamorous as being with a playoff contender, it will give the former Heisman winner a chance to show just what he can do with a team that is struggling.
Seriously though, the Texans were one of the worst teams defensively, and it’s going to take a while to overcome that. It will also take time for Mariota to grow into his new role, which could be difficult given what pressure he will be under to succeed. Keep in mind that Mariota has not been a starting quarterback for two years now, making him somewhat of a risk.
#2 The Washington Football team
The Washington Football team is very much an organization in transition, and they really need to start building towards a better future. Of course, they came close to making a run at the title but were destroyed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during wildcard weekend. Washington also released Alex Smith from their roster last week, meaning they are most likely in the market for a starting quarterback or even a backup quarterback. Maybe it will take a few changes to the squad in order to make them a playoff contender, but that would certainly start with acquiring Mariota.
#1 The New England Patriots
It’s no secret that Bill Billichecik is a man that knows how to win, but he also just doesn’t seem to have the right pieces in place to do that. While Belichick tried to fill the giant hole left by Tom Brady with Cam Newton, it didn’t end up being a great fit. In fact, between Newton throwing only eight touchdowns to ten interceptions and losing eight games this season, it’s pretty safe to say that the experiment failed. With that being said, however, and the Patriots supposedly having an interest in Marcus Mariota, you have to wonder if this could be a dream pairing.
Think about it! Marcus Mariota might be more of a mobile quarterback than what Billicheck wants to deal with, but his consistency is top-notch. Beyond that, he has a knack for saving plays and even coming up big on drivers.
According to former NFL insider Field Yates”The Patriots are among a group of teams that are too far from the top of the draft order to be a likely landing spot for the top-draft-prospect quarterbacks… Be it via trade or cut, Mariota could find a new home this offseason … and the Patriots are a logical fit.”
