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Marcus Mariota to have private workout with New York Jets

ByEthan Finkelstein|
Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets helmet on the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets helmet on the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Former Oregon Ducks starting quarterback and 2014 Heisman Trophy Award winner Marcus Mariota will have a private workout for the New York Jets.

The New York Jets have the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft this year, and there is no way to know what they will do with the selection until that time comes. However, in the latest series of mock drafts, former Oregon Ducks quarterback and 2014 Heisman Trophy Award winner Marcus Mariota is the projection for “Gang Green.”

Amid growing speculation regarding what the team will do with their sixth overall pick, the Jets have opted on a private workout with the aforementioned Mariota on Saturday. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, those in attendance will include general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles, among others.

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It is not all that surprising that the Jets are taking a look at the consensus number two signal caller in this year’s draft. However, it is a little perplexing if they are giving serious thought to selecting the guy after trading for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, and keeping last year’s starter Geno Smith on the docket.

One would think that the team will be having those two compete for the job. Drafting a guy like Mariota would run the risk of pushing him down to third string or, more likely, reducing Fitzpatrick’s or Smith’s role down to that. This may send the wrong message, but it’s something that the Jets clearly think might be the right move. Given the quarterback problems they’ve had in the past, boasting three starting-caliber quarterbacks is something that still might not fix all the Jets miserable problems they’ve been having under center.

Regardless of whom is designated the team’s starter, the Jets will likely enter the 2015 season a better team on offense than they were last year.

The addition of pro-bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall from Chicago will provide an extra weapon downfield, and take some of the pressure off of Eric Decker. In fact, the passing game for New York has nowhere to go but up in 2015, as the Jets finished dead last in the league last season with just 184.1 yards per game through the air; a stark contrast from their third ranked rushing attack (142.5 ypg).

[H/T: Ian Rapoport]

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