NFL Rumors: Zach Mettenberger doesn’t want to be traded

Zach Mettenberger doesn’t want to be traded despite addition of Marcus Mariota

The drama surrounding the number two pick in the draft fizzled when no blockbuster trade was announced. Despite months of speculation of millions of expectant Eagles fans looking to meet their new quarterback, the Tennessee Titans announced their pick and took Marcus Mariota themselves.

The pick surprised many as the Titans have been talking up Mettenberger for months. They have also been talking up Mariota for months. Selective bias and a desire for drama, I imagine, drove most to believe that their love of Mettenberger was legitimate, while their hype for Mariota was simply to generate more value for the inevitable trade back by the Eagles or Browns or Chargers as they traded up to #2 to select Mariota. Well, Mariota’s going to Tennessee and Mettenberger may be out of a job.

Shortly after the Titans draft pick was announced Mettenberger’s agent was reportedly trying to get Mettenberger traded from Tennessee. He wanted his client to have a shot at a starting job and with Mariota drafted #2 it would stand to reason that Mettenberger won’t have a shot at a starting job.

These statements have since been withdrawn. According to Rapoport, Mettenberger’s agent is now saying that his client doesn’t want to be traded, what he wants is to compete with Mariota for a chance to start.

Whether or not head coach Ken Whisenhunt will give Mettenberger a fair and reasonable chance to start remains to be seen. Whisenhunt has only been in Tennessee for one year but if he starts to string together multiple years of lackluster performance without taking a shot on his flashy new quarterback then he’ll soon find himself out the door.

While Mariota’s success in college in undeniable, it remains to be seen if that success will translate to a professional level. Mettenberger on the other hand has started six NFL games for the Tennessee Titans and he failed to win any of them. The Titans were 0-6 with Mettenberger starting games. He managed to throw more touchdowns than interceptions, and for many he passed the eye test.

I’m still on the fence about him. I fear he may have the same career trajectory of Kirk Cousins. A more traditional pocket passer with exaggerated potential based on some flashes of success but not enough playing time to demonstrate his inability to be a starter due to sitting behind a less traditional mobile quarterback. The Titans would do well to at least pay lip service to a quarterback competition if for no other reason than to make Mettenberger feel fairly treated and to humble Mariota a little bit.

The Mariota and Mettenberger talk is just heating up and may not be settled until Whisenhunt announces who the starter will be for week one.

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