The Tennessee Titans have a new quarterback in Marcus Mariota and the number two pick could start in Week 1 for Ken Whisenhunt over Zach Mettenberger and this comes as the team has added a number of new players that should contribute from the draft, including Dorial Green-Beckham, Jalston Fowler, David Cobb, Tre McBride and Jeremiah Poutasi.
The Titans had the chance to trade the pick used to take Mariota, but they opted to select the quarterback for themselves. The Chargers, Bears, Browns and Eagles all had interest in Mariota, but no one stepped up with a good enough package for the Titans. Mariota now should get the chance to start for Tennessee, as Ken Whisenhunt said before the draft that Mariota had the potential to be the starting quarterback in Week 1 wherever was drafted to.
Mariota comes in with Mettenberger as the main quarterbacks on the roster ahead of Charlie Whitehurst and Mariota could end up with the inside edge. The Titans said that they were satisfied with how Mettenberger played last season, but with Mariota getting so much attention coming into the draft, he likely will be given the chance to start. Mariota put up some amazing number at Oregon and he also won the Heisman trophy last season while bringing his team to the national championship game.
The Titans won just two games last season and they have holes all over the roster, especially on defense. The offensive side of the ball has a lot of young players and Whisenhunt may push some of his rookies into starting roles. The Titans actually have some good depth at wide receiver, but after taking Dorial Green-Beckham in the second round and Tre McBride in the seventh, the team could push those players to contribute.
Green-Beckham has a better chance to start than McBride and he could fit in well with the group, as he has great size and speed, which is why the team took him despite his off the field issues. The Titans have depth with Justin Hunter, Kendall Wright, Jacoby Ford, Hakeem Nicks and Harry Douglas, but adding an explosive talent like Green-Beckham could be huge for the team.
The Titans also have some solid depth at running back with Bishop Sankey, Dexter McCluster and Shonn Greene along with Cobb and Fowler, but there is a chance all those players do not last through camp. According to Paul Kuharsky at ESPN.com, Greene likely is the odd man out with Cobb coming in, as Whisenhunt praised Cobb coming into the draft and thinks he could be a solid option with Sankey and McCluster. Fowler is considered a classic "football player" coming out of Alabama and he is expecting to get work as a blocker and pass protector.
Mariota is obviously the star of this draft class for the Titans, but both Cobb and Green-Beckham could end up as the best picks for Tennessee. Last season Sankey rushed for 569 yards and two touchdowns for the Titans on 152 carries and after that so-so season, Cobb could push him to start. Cobb was one of the most productive running backs in college football last season, rushing for 1626 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging over five yards per carry.
