Marcus Mariota was released earlier this week and does have the perfect profile as someone who could hold the backup QB spot down in Denver.
Once upon a time, Mariota was a high draft pick back in 2015 and seemed to be the future of the Tennessee Titans. The second overall pick back in thr 2015 NFL Draft was a low-end starter in the NFL but did often have some high moments during his career.
After playing five years as a Titan, Mariota found himself as the backup with the Raiders in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He saw limited action during this time but did sign a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022.
He started 13 games this past season, throwing for 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, earning a passer rating of 88.2, which is about who he is as a passer.
As a QB, Mariota is a good size. His arm has never been special, but he's got excellent mobility.
I think as a QB2, Mariota would make perfect sense in Denver. Why I'm drawn to this possibility is because of what head coach Sean Payton has done with veteran QBs in the past. His two most recent examples are Jameis Winston and Teddy Bridgewater.
Payton has a solid track record of getting respectable production out of these passers who were largely forgotten. Bridgewater's five-game stretch for the Saints in 2019 helped him land a nice payday with the Carolina Panthers the following season.
Jameis Winston also had a very nice stretch for the team in 2021 as well. I don't see why Payton couldn't do the same thing with Mariota, who is a better QB than Winston and Bridgewater. This isn't to say that I think Mariota should see the field, but what if Russell Wilson needs to miss a few games with an injury, or what if Wilson is still playing poorly in 2023?
Having a high-quality backup QB in the NFL is objectively a good thing, and Payton seems to know what he's doing with these players, so I'd love the possibility of Marcus Mariota.