Chicago Bears Free Agency: Ranking realistic QB options
By Ryan Heckman
3. Marcus Mariota
Another veteran who would definitely fit into Nagy’s offense is former no. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota. This past season, Mariota found himself benched in favor of fellow free agent Ryan Tannehill after the Tennessee Titans simply couldn’t find their groove. Of course, the rest is history after the Titans got on a roll under Tannehill’s strong play and wound up in the AFC Championship Game.
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One of the reasons I could see the Bears going after either Keenum or Mariota, aside from their obvious fit, is the fact that they will more than likely come on the cheaper side. Mariota would be looking to go somewhere in order to reclaim his career and turn things around — similar to what Tannehill did, funny enough.
Mariota is a mobile quarterback, of course, but hasn’t put that factor on full display since coming back from a serious injury a few years back. He does have 11 career rushing touchdowns and the ability to get the ball across the goal line if need be, which would come as a welcome addition.
Like Keenum, though, Mariota has only had one above average season. Back in 2016, he threw 26 touchdown passes to go along with 3,426 yards and only nine picks. But, aside from that strong showing, he went on to throw a combined 24 touchdowns over the next two years and just seven in 2019.
He’s a reclamation project for sure, but Mariota wouldn’t be a Day 1 starter. He’d also come in to push Trubisky, like Keenum would.