This likely wasn’t ever really in question. Despite his struggles last season, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is viewed as the future at that position in Nashville.
Facing a deadline this offseason whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Mariota’s rookie contract, Titans general manager Jon Robinson noted on Wednesday that the team is planning on doing just that.
Jon Robinson on @Midday180: We are planning on exercising Marcus Mariota's fifth-year option. #Titans
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) April 18, 2018
As with fellow 2015 draft pick Jameis Winston, said option is expected to pay Mariota nearly $21 million for the 2019 season. That’s a whole lot of cash for a player we saw record 13 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions as a third-year player last season.
The option is, however, guaranteed for injury only. This means if Mariota is able to go through the 2018 season unscathed, the Titans can get out from under his contract without a dead cap hit. Given that two of Mariota’s first three seasons have ended in injury, that’s a mighty high risk for the Titans to take.