San Diego Chargers Rumors: Philip Rivers Trade To Tennessee Titans Option For Marcus Mariota Draft Pick If Traded Over NY Jets?

Apr 23, 2015 10:45 AM EDT
Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers looks to hand off in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. "

The San Diego Chargers may consider a Philip Rivers trade this offseason with the Tennessee Titans to get the right to draft Marcus Mariota and this comes as the NY Jets, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears and Redskins have had reported interest in Mariota and could consider moving up if the Titans pick is traded.

The speculation about Rivers at first seemed crazy, but as Pro Football Talk writes, the talk about Rivers getting traded is "not going away" for the Chargers. Rivers has said that he is not totally down with the move to Los Angeles and he is coming into the final year of his contract, putting his future in San Diego up in the air. Those two issues do no mean that Rivers will definitely get traded, but with the draft getting closer it's looking more like a possibility.

Union-Tribune San Diego has been all over the Rivers talk and while he has arrived at offseason workouts, the team is "seriously" considering moving up for Mariota. According to the newspaper, Chargers GM Tom Telesco was asked about the Rivers trade talk and he said that the team's "plan and intent" is for Rivers to be the QB. But as the report notes, Telesco did not shoot down the rumors completely and leaving the door open will only let the volume about the trade get louder.

According to Pro Football Talk, Mariota worked out for the Chargers and met with the team last week ahead of the draft. Teams with the number 17 pick do not usually meet and workout players that are likely going in the top five unless they are considering trading up. The number two pick with the Titans will cost a lot, but the Chargers have something other teams don't: a strong quarterback to dangle in Rivers. The Buccaneers are likely taking Jameis Winston number one and that leaves the Titans to decide what to do at number two.

David Climer at the Tennesseean writes that the team likely will not take a quarterback at number two if they stay at the pick. The draft consensus has Leonard Williams as the likely selection, but the team also will take trade offers on the pick. Mariota won the Heisman and he is getting the most attention of anyone in the draft heading into the event. The Browns, Jets and Bears have had reported interest in Mariota and these teams have picks and/or players to use in draft deals.

The Browns look to be the best situated for a move, as they have two first round picks to haggle with and the most selections in the draft. The Bears have Jay Cutler as a trade chip and with his connections to Tennessee from college, he could be an option. The best thing the Jets have going for them is that they pick at six, but they may not want to give up their entire draft to move up to number two.

Rivers has a connection to Tennessee with Ken Whisenhunt, as he was OC for the Chargers in 2013 when the QB had one of his best statistical seasons. The Titans also fit, as they have the cap space to take on Rivers' contract and still have some room for the draft. 

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