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Titans welcome Marcus Mariota with giant billboard

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first quarter in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Oregon Ducks 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first quarter in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Oregon Ducks 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tennessee Titans drafted Marcus Mariota with their top pick this year and now they’re welcoming the young quarterback with a huge billboard.

Wondering what type of things you get when you’re a top pick in the NFL Draft? Just ask guys like Jameis Winston, who was just offered free dental exams, and now Marcus Mariota who gets to see a giant figure of himself on a billboard in Nashville, Tenn., for the next few months.

It seems as if the Tennessee Titans are pretty excited to welcome their new draft pick and probable starter for next season. Mariota brings a lot to the table and the Titans saw that, picking him with their top selection instead of trading it to the Philadelphia Eagles who were apparently driving a deal at them with all they had.

Mariota was a surprise to me with the No. 2 pick only because I thought he would be drafted, or should be drafted, No. 1 overall.

The rookie quarterback will likely have a solid career and I wouldn’t be very surprised if he wins the MVP award one day. As a collegiate junior, Mariota finished the season with 4,454 yards, 42 touchdowns and eight interceptions while rushing for 770 yards and another 15 scores.

Throughout his three years with the Oregon Ducks, Mariota passed for 10,796 yards, 105 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions — just absolutely unreal video game-like numbers. He also rushed for 2,237 yards and 29 touchdowns.

It’s safe to say this kid is going to be something special one day, but he apparently wasn’t good enough to be chosen with the No. 1 overall pick.

Everyone seems to be happy to welcome Mariota to Tennessee. Everyone, that is, other than quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Last year’s rookie starter played in seven games after Jake Locker was injured, and eventually retired, while passing for over 1,400 yards and eight touchdowns. Now, he’s fighting for his job in just his second year in the NFL.

Mettenberger was drafted in the sixth round in 2014 and it seemed like he would be fighting an uphill battle his entire career, coming off knee surgery from his senior year at LSU. He went from a potential top-two round pick to a mid-sixth rounder.

Although he plans to ‘fight out’ the QB battle, he will likely lose to the team’s potential future. Mariota was drafted to be the starter and he will likely be anointed as such on day one.

This billboard has to be salt in the wound for Mettenberger.

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