Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota? Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston? The 2015 NFL Draft boasts two potentially elite quarterback prospects, and pundits have talked for months about who will go first on Thursday night.
In NFL circles, however, there is no secret about who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will select with the first-overall pick.
“We all know it,” says one NFL source. “Don’t let them fool you by saying Marcus Mariota is maybe the guy. Jameis Winston is the guy.”
Scouts believe Winston can make an impact right away for Tampa Bay or whichever team drafts him. Many pro-personnel men believe he’s the best quarterback prospect to enter the draft since Andrew Luck in 2012.
But unlike Luck, Winston has a murky off-field track record.
Winston has had several incidents that have led to questions about his maturity and overall mental makeup, including pellet-gun battles, helping himself to fountain soda at a Burger King without paying for it, stealing crab legs, and standing on a table on his Florida State campus and repeatedly shouting an offensive phrase. He is also currently being sued over an alleged 2012 sexual assault.
A number of teams in the NFL are happy they don’t have to hope and pray Winston cleans up his act. But after interviewing more than 75 people while vetting Winston, the Buccaneers look set to do exactly that.
So with Winston all but locked into Tampa with the No. 1 selection, the focus turns to 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Many insiders around the league strongly believe Mariota will be snapped up with the second overall choice, be it Tennessee or another team trading up, but one NFL team source doesn’t think that will happen.
“I have a hard time seeing Mariota going No. 2. I think that out of everyone Mariota might be the one guy that slides.”
If indeed Super Mariota does begin to fall, and if he gets past the Jets and Browns who are said to be looking for a quarterback, then Chip Kelly could strike. Philadelphia’s always-scheming head coach could send Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez to a QB-needy team to help Mariota drop.
“I personally think Mariota is going to end up with the Eagles,” says a team personnel staffer. “Although, Chip doesn’t want to trade too much to go get him.”
Kelly has gone on record saying he believes Mariota is the best quarterback in the draft. And according to Ron Jaworski, Kelly has told people in the league that Mariota will win “multiple Super Bowls.”
A Kelly-Mariota reunion could be beneficial for all parties involved.
“I think it will definitely increase Mariota’s chances of having success quicker if he lands with Chip in Philly,” says a talent evaluator.
Lots of scouts believe Mariota is going to be a very good quarterback in the NFL. Some say he has similar traits to Green Bay Packers pivot and NFL all-pro Aaron Rodgers.
“Rodgers has some hot fire in him like Mariota,” one source says.
Mariota has yet to show himself to be a marketable face, but Rodgers hadn’t at that point in his career, either.
“Aaron didn’t talk too much in college. He just did his job and still does his job,” says the source. “A lot of people knock Mariota because they don’t see the personality, but who ever said winning games and throwing touchdowns was a popularity contest? He just needs to do well and teammates will follow.”
A Rodgers-like drop—the Green Bay signal caller fell all the way to No. 24 in 2005 after being projected to go as high as No. 1 to the San Francisco 49ers—could be a blessing in disguise for Mariota if it means he ends up in Eagles green.
Plus, unlike with Rogers, there’ll be no awkward green-room scene for Mariota as he’ll be at home in Hawaii on draft night.