Five NFL Teams That Should Trade for Philip Rivers
By Daniel Tran
For San Diego Chargers fans, the unthinkable has happened – Philip Rivers has become a trade asset.
Philip Rivers was going to be a San Diego Charger for life. Even at the ripe age of 33, Rivers was still performing like a Pro-Bowl caliber quarterback with no signs of slowing down any time soon. Last season, Rivers completed his ninth year as a full-time starter, completing 66.5 percent of his passes and throwing for 31 touchdowns.
Once the San Diego Chargers made him a starter during the 2006 season, Rivers has averaged 4,056 passing yards and 28 touchdowns per season while completing 64.7 percent of his throws. His unorthodox throwing motion and savvy in the pocket brought success to the Chargers, who clinched five playoff berths in nine seasons, and making it to the AFC Championship game twice – one of which he accomplished with one good ACL.
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But, as it has been made abundantly clear throughout NFL history, success is no guarantee for loyalty. Like many great quarterbacks before him, he is now on the verge of being expendable because a newer, younger model of quarterback is now available.
The San Diego Chargers have reportedly fallen in love with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who will be in this year’s NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the Chargers, Mariota is so good that he will not fall to them at the 17th pick where they are currently positioned. Fortunately for San Diego, the Tennessee Titans, who hold the second overall pick, are willing to trade that pick – for a hefty price.
The Titans are asking for the services of Philip Rivers, who is in the final year of his six-year, $91.8 million contract, in exchange for the nearly guaranteed chance of getting Mariota (unless the Tampa Buccaneers go Gary Busey levels of insane and nab him instead of Jameis Winston). At first, the deal seemed like a throw-it-to-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks kind of trade, but after the Chargers failed to dispel the rumor regarding their franchise quarterback, the possibility is more real than fans are hoping for.
Even if the Chargers don’t end up making a deal with the Titans to get the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the fact that San Diego is thinking about it begs the question to be asked: Who else has a chance at trading for a proven Pro-Bowl quarterback? Let’s take a dive down the rabbit hole that is trade possibility.
Next: Tennessee Titans