If the Patriots want Marcus Mariota, it looks like they may get an opportunity to go after him without having to trade for him.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, clauses within the quarterback’s contract appear to be scaring potential teams away from trading for the 27-year old quarterback. Rapoport reports that Mariota has incentives within his current deal that would dramatically increase his pay and it’s causing any potential trade market to dry up for his services.
He went on to point out that if this trend continues, Mariota will have a chance to potentially pick his next landing spot in free agency.
From NFL Now: #Raiders QB Marcus Mariota has generated a lot of interest from teams, but the max value of his contract has been an issue for teams. Trade talk has slowed considerably. Could he be eventually released? pic.twitter.com/pPlwOSS3Yk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2021
“This is an interesting one because a couple days ago, it really seemed like Marcus Mariota was going to be on the move,” said Rapoport. “I know teams were interested, were calling the Las Vegas Raiders about potentially acquiring Marcus Mariota, and things did get down the line a little bit and there is significant interest in teams trying to get Marcus Mariota to come in and play quarterback for them.”
“But there is an issue. Take a look at his contract. He’s due a little more than $10 million this year. If he’s going to be a bridge starter, which would be the role he’d come in and play, that’s not bad. That’s actually not the issue. The issue is, based on incentives, if he is the starter and ends up playing the entire season, he could make an additional $12 million. So more than $20 million for Marcus Mariota.”
“Teams, as of right now, don’t seem to think that’s something that would be worth it, especially when you consider they’d also give up a draft pick to trade for him. That trade market has now dried up significantly, leading to the question, ‘Could Mariota be released and then end up picking his own team and getting some more guaranteed money in the process?’ That might work out better for him and potentially, better for the Raiders, than anything else.”
This news may potentially be good for New England. If the Raiders are ultimately forced to cut him, it could give Mariota an opportunity to go somewhere that will certainly have a top-notch coaching staff who can help him continue turning his career around. Even better, it gives him the chance to go to an organization that obviously knows how to win and has the track record to back it up.
At that point, it may give the Patriots the edge where if it comes down to money, even if they’re not the highest bidder, the thought of playing for Bill Belichick might sway him into coming to the Patriots.
Either way, it’s certainly intriguing news as we get closer to free agency. Now we’ll just have to see how it plays out.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
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