2. Marcus Mariota, QB
Mariota boasts all the tools necessary to be an effective NFL starting quarterback, and the sweepstakes to nab the reigning Heisman Trophy winner begins at pick No. 2 and Tennessee and will perhaps not last beyond No. 6 and the Jets, where we expect the former Oregon quarterback to land.
Jameis Winston is far and away the most NFL-ready quarterback in the 2015 crop, and while Mariota is the second-best prospect at the position he is not nearly as a lock to have success at the professional level like Winston is. There is no guarantee Mariota’s skill-set can translate from Oregon’s spread system to a pro-style offense, as it’s been a mixed bag of results with those types of quarterbacks in year’s past.
Investing in Mariota remains a risk, and while it isn’t the biggest leap a team picking in the top 10 can take, there will inevitably be questions about the quarterback’s fit and abilities and even his competitive nature.
