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Tennessee Titans: Why The Titans Should Take Mariota (Or Winston)

It almost seems as if the Titans can do no wrong with the #2 overall pick. But It's now clear there is only one correct choice.

By Josh Gunnels
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

So I fell off the fence. Up until this point I was completely torn about what the Tennessee Titans should do with the overall number 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.  Up until now, I've figured the team was in a win/win/win situation.  Take Mariota?  Great.  Take the number 1 defensive player and "surest" thing in the draft?  Awesome.  Trade back for a bevy of players in which to rebuild your franchise for years of future dominance?  Awesome.  And maybe I'm right, maybe this is all still true.

But as much as I've tried to stay away, as much as I've sworn I wouldn't get excited, I find myself being sucked in.  I've been sucked into the quarterback hype.  I've been sucked into the need for a franchise signal caller.   I mean, if there's really that many teams that could be willing to trade the farm for Mariota, why wouldn't he be good enough for the Titans?

Winston has long been slated to go to Tampa Bay first overall.  But wait, so now Mariota is the better quarterback? But wait, you need to sit him and he's a project? He's garbage and will flame out.  No, no, no, he's the next Aaron Rodgers.  Aghhhh!!!!!

I'm not going to even bother researching the stats of 1st round draft picks that have become "franchise" quarterbacks of the past.  And it doesn't matter if this is Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf all over again, or even Andrew Luck and RGIII.

The bottom line is this:

  1. The Titans are in the fortunate or unfortunate position to actually be drafting second overall for the first time ever.

  2. There just so happens to be two quarterbacks at the top of this draft that a whole lot of scouts, GM's, and coaches think are top flight prospects.

  3. The Titans do not have a definitive proven answer at the quarterback position, which like it or not, is the most crucial piece of the puzzle for any football team.

That's it.  That's all you really need to know.

No, it's not guaranteed.  Yes, it may be the wrong pick and "set your franchise back 5 years".  But if it's the right pick, it could set your franchise up for the next 10-15 years.  There are no guarantees at any position, period, and you've got to take your chance while you have it.  This is why you are at the top of the draft.  This is why the worst teams get to draft first.

Don't overthink it.

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