With the Las Vegas Raiders' signing of free-agent quarterback Marcus Mariota earlier in the month, some thought there may be a QB controversy in Las Vegas. However, according to Mariota himself, he's ready to be a backup and acknowledges that the Raiders are Derek Carr's team.
“First and foremost, this is Derek’s team. I understand that going in. I think my priority was to be part of a team that would bring out the best in me. Whatever happens, whatever comes of that, I’m ready for,” Marcus Mariota said in an interview with Rob DeMello of KHON2 News.
The former No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner agreed to a two-year deal with the Raiders worth $17.6 million. He joins a Las Vegas team that went 7-9 in their last season in Oakland.
Mariota spent the last five campaigns with the Tennessee Titans where he served as the team's starting quarterback for most of that time. However, after showing a lot of promise in his first two seasons, injuries caught up with him and have hindered his career since.
Last season, the 26-year-old began the season as the Titans' starter before a mixture of poor play and injury led to Ryan Tannehill grabbing the starting spot.
As for Derek Carr, the six-year veteran is coming off a solid 2019 campaign where he completed a career-high 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,054 yards, 21 touchdowns and only eight interceptions for the Raiders.
Both Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman served as the Raiders' quarterbacks behind Carr last year. The team has yet to re-sign Glennon who is an unrestricted free agent and tendered Peterman. Either way, Mariota should be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league.
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