CHINA TOPIX

11/22/2024 05:16:58 am

Make CT Your Homepage

NFL News & Rumors: Titans Finally Sign Second Pick Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota

(Photo : Getty Images) Tennessee Titan's quarterback Marcus Mariota.

The Tennessee Titans have finally signed their second overall pick in this year's draft, quarterback Marcus Mariota, to a four-year deal that includes a fifth-year team option, according to ESPN.

Like Us on Facebook

The exact financial terms of the contract were not officially disclosed although Bleacher Report indicated that it has to be somewhere around $24.2 million including a $15.9 million signing bonus, which is the typical offer for first-round selections.

With Tuesday's signing, all of the NFL's 2015 first-rounders are now set to appear in the upcoming season.

The Titans are scheduled to begin their preseason training camp on July 30 and will hold their first practice the day after the formal opening. The 21-year-old former Oregon standout will now have a clear mind in grasping head coach Ken Whisenhunt's plays without worrying about his professional future.

Speculations are abuzz that Whisenhunt is considering the 6-foot-4 2014 Heisman Trophy winner to be the team's primary signal caller over second-year pro Zach Mettenberger, who failed to win a single game for Tennessee last season as a starter.

The reason for the delay in Mariota's signing was said to be because of something called the offset language. Offset language allows the signing team to forfeit the remaining guaranteed salary of the signee during the fourth year of his contract if ever he will be released to a new team.

For instance, a first-rounder receives a contract worth $10 million for four years. With an offset language provision, the original team would not have to pay the remaining $2.5 million owed to the player for his last season if he decides to jump ship to a new team at the end of his third year. The player simply receives his new salary, and the old contract is no longer existing.

Without the offset language, the original team has to pay the jump-shipping player the remaining $2.5 million on top of the new salary he would be receiving with his new team.

The Titans obviously want to include the offset provision and as soon as they did the deal was closed.

With Mariota safely in Whisenhunt's corner, the team is said to be on its way to their "most interesting training camp in years," as per the NFL's official website.

With a plethora of excellent wide receivers such as Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter, and fellow rookie Dorial Green-Beckham, plus tight end Delanie Walker, Mariota can make the most of his exceptional passing game that will further improve the Titans' offense next season.

Real Time Analytics