5 quarterbacks Washington can fall back on if masterplan goes awry

4. Marcus Mariota

It’s crazy to think how Marcus Mariota’s career has unfolded. Once deemed as the next great dual-threat quarterback coming out of Oregon, Mariota never quite lived up to the billing of a No. 2 overall pick.

After a promising first two seasons as Tennessee’s starter, Mariota’s efficiency fell off a cliff, prompting the Titans to trade for Ryan Tannehill, who enjoyed immediate success in Arthur Smith’s offense.

Mariota left the Titans as a free agent during the 2020 offseason and ended up with the Raiders on a two-year, $17 million deal. That seemed to light a fire under Derek Carr, who played superbly over the last two seasons to quiet fans who were calling for Mariota to get some run under center.

Despite his lack of opportunities in Las Vegas, Mariota has delivered when called upon. Over the last two seasons, the 28-year-old has logged 175 rushing yards on just 18 carries. That’s good for 9.7 yards per clip, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise his 18 carries resulted in 14 first downs.

Make no mistake, that dual-threat ability will make Mariota a hot commodity on the open market. He won’t wow you with his arm talent, but his career stats — 62.8% completion rate, 181.6 yards per game, 77 touchdowns, 45 interceptions and a 89.5 passer rating — are nothing to sniff at.

The former college superstar didn’t make any fuss about being a backup with the Raiders, so he’d likely be open to the idea of being a veteran mentor or play a temporary starting role while Washington develops a potential draftee.