Marcus Mariota Will Rework Contract To Remain With Las Vegas Raiders

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 26: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks with Andre James #68 prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on December 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 26: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks with Andre James #68 prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on December 26, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Former Oregon Football Quarterback Marcus Mariota has agreed to remain with the Las Vegas Raiders for the upcoming season.

The last few months for Marcus Mariota have been a roller coaster. With a contract loaded with incentives, he was not able to find a new home via trade and it was clear that the Raiders did not want to cut him. On Tuesday, he agreed to rework his contract to remain with the team.

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The new contract is for one year at $3.5 million at the request of the team. Incentives could pay him up to $8 million for the season, which saves some cap space for Las Vegas. The old contract paid Mariota more than $10 million. The Raiders requested $3 million, Mariota got an extra $500,000 out of the reworked contract.

Marcus Mariota has had more downs than ups in his career since departing Oregon Football. He played for the Tennessee Titans, but health and coaching consistency were an issue in his time there.

In 2019, his final season with the Tennessee Titans he threw for 1200 yards, 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Last season with Las Vegas he made a single appearance and was productive, showing off his legs. He was 17 of 28 for over 200 yards and a score. The reworked deal not only gives the Raiders some additional cap space, it may also make Mariota expendable for another team looking for a quarterback.

However, I believe that the reworked deal likely puts his salary in line with other backups that are capable of playing in the National Football League. Mariota does have, at least for me, more of a watchability factor, when he does play simply because he is still young enough to be a dual-threat and defenses will always be aware of that.

Marcus Mariota, as things stand, will enter the 2021 season as the backup to Derek Carr. He will come into training camp healthy and compete. The best thing for Mariota is to be prepared. I expect he will see the field in the NFL Preseason with the chance of finding an opportunity with a new team.