Marcus Mariota

Career StatsC

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	INT	RTG
Career		104	17,879	107	62	89.7
2025		11	1,695	10	7	86.1
2024		3	364	4	0	131.3

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This $7M deal for Marcus Mariota represents a fair market transaction for what amounts to high-end backup quarterback insurance. At serviceable starter production levels, Mariota's one-year contract aligns reasonably well with his current capabilities, though it's certainly not a bargain given his inconsistent track record as a full-time starter. The former second overall pick, now 31, has settled into a career phase where he's proven capable of spot duty but lacks the upside to justify significant long-term investment. The contract structure actually works in everyone's favor here — the $6.4M in guaranteed money provides Mariota with solid security while the short term gives his next team maximum flexibility to evaluate whether he can recapture any of his earlier promise. This C-grade CVI reflects a competent but unremarkable signing that neither moves the needle significantly nor represents poor resource allocation, essentially buying a team a known commodity who can manage games if called upon but shouldn't be expected to elevate the offense around him.

Performance Analysis

Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, enters free agency as an 11-year veteran carrying a C grade and a diminishing role in today's NFL. His career 89.7 passer rating and 62.8 completion percentage reflect a player who once held franchise-QB expectations but settled into a capable backup and spot-starter profile. This current season snapshot, however, tells a more concerning story than his full body of work suggests. His 7.47 yards per attempt — above the NFL average of 6.90 — shows Mariota still attacks downfield effectively when given opportunities. The concern is volume and accuracy: his 61.2 completion percentage trails the league average of 64.2, and his 154.1 passing yards per game is well below the 230.0 NFL average. His TD rate of 4.41 percent sits essentially at league average, offering no real upside in the passing game. The season trend tells the sharpest story — a B- in 2024 has eroded to a C- in 2025, continuing a trajectory that included a D+ in 2023. At 32, Mariota profiles best as a veteran backup or emergency starter with dual-threat utility, drawing faint comparisons to late-career Josh McCown. Teams valuing experience and mobility over production may find value, but expecting a starter-level resurgence would be misplaced. --- **Word count check:** Let me tighten — that's 4 paragraphs. Let me revise to 3. --- Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, enters free agency at 32 with a C grade and a shrinking role. His career 89.7 passer rating and 62.

Current Sentiment

Marcus Mariota enters the 2026 offseason in a familiar role as a reliable veteran presence, with recent reporting confirming the Washington Commanders have agreed to bring him back for another season. His inclusion on lists of quarterbacks who 'must be re-signed' reflects a modest but genuine market value as a dependable backup and emergency starter rather than a franchise cornerstone. The broader quarterback market conversation — dominated by names like Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers — underscores that Mariota occupies a supporting role in the league's QB hierarchy, though his experience and professionalism keep him relevant. Fan and media perception is largely neutral-to-warm, appreciating his veteran leadership and steady presence without harboring expectations of a return to starting-caliber performance. Overall, Mariota's reputation heading into 2026 is that of a respected journeyman who has found a stable niche, with his re-signing viewed as a sensible, low-risk move rather than a headline-generating acquisition.