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Will Mike Mayock ranking Marcus Mariota No. 1 raise his stock?

By Evan Massey

Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during pre-game warmups before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during pre-game warmups before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will Mike Mayock ranking Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota over Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston improve Mariota’s draft stock?

Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston have been the two most talked about 2015 NFL Draft prospects so far this offseason, and rightfully so. Both quarterbacks are capable of becoming legitimate franchise players, and there are quite a few teams in desperate need of finding that type of quarterback.

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That being said, Winston has seen his name at the top of most rankings and is widely expected to be the number one overall pick. Mike Mayock is known for creating positional rankings quite often ahead of the NFL Draft, and his latest ranking placed Mariota ahead of Winston. It is a bit of a surprise, but it also brings quite a few question marks up surrounding who the number one overall pick is going to end up being.

Perhaps the biggest question that arises, is whether or not Mayock’s latest rankings will affect Mariota’s draft stock moving forward as the draft approaches.

Why Marcus Mariota’s Stock Will Rise

Quite simply, Mariota will see his stock rise due to the latest Mayock rankings. Every single time a player gets good press, their name is brought up a new light and there are things seen about them in a positive way that weren’t seen before. One example is that Mariota has come across as an intelligent and clean individual, while Winston has quite a few question marks off-the-field.

Winston has seen his name attached to rape accusations and a plethora of other issues that have received very negative publicity. Mariota, on the other hand, has seen his name attached to being a very intelligent quarterback that is playing for his home state of Hawaii and being a great family man. He is seen on big stages acing interviews, and looks to have the same type of talent without the other baggage that Winston has.

As the draft continues to move closer, the Buccaneers are going to get nervous about Winston’s problems. There is always the chance that they take Winston despite the issues that they know he has, but there is also a chance that they see Winston rising in rankings and continuing to come across as a much more mature option and take the safe route.

Comparing their two collegiate careers is another area that Mariota edges Winston. Mariota ended up throwing for 10,796 yards, 105 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions in three years, while Winston threw for 7,964 yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in two years.

Taking care of the football is exactly what NFL teams want to see from quarterback prospects, and Winston didn’t do that as well as Mariota did. Stats alone won’t be the difference in who gets picked first overall, but Mariota is catching fire with the press at the right time.

Why Marcus Mariota’s Stock May Not Matter Against Winston

While there is a good chance that Mariota’s stock could help him overtake Winston for most teams, there is no guarantee that Tampa Bay is interested in listening to Mayock’s opinion or what the media has to say. Mariota is without question their safest pick with just as much potential as Winston has right, but that doesn’t mean that they will take that route.

Keeping Winston in Florida would help the Buccaneers sell tickets much easier, and would increase the hype surrounding their franchise. They are looking to make a splash both on-the-field and off-the-field, and Winston will cause much more of that splash away from football than Mariota would. It may not be the right reason to make a decision on a potential long-term franchise quarterback, but it certainly does factor in.

Needless to say, the Buccaneers have a very difficult decision ahead of them with two very good quarterbacks to choose between. Either way they will likely get a solid quarterback, but that’s what many said about the Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III situation.

What Will the Buccaneers End Up Doing?

After weighing all of the issues and talents between the two players, most teams would likely choose to go with Mariota. Tampa Bay isn’t most teams, however, and they seems to have their eyes set on taking Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Whether or not they are making the right decision will not be known this season, but there is going to be a lot of pressure on whoever they choose to pick. The Buccaneers have been waiting on a top-notch quarterback for quite some time, and they finally have their chance. Mariota’s rise in rankings certainly makes this a more difficult choice for the Buccaneers, but it likely won’t affect their decision unless something else happens.

Expect to see Winston get taken with the first overall pick and become the next starting quarterback for Tampa Bay.

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