Marcus Mariota’s Stats: Well-Traveled “Star” Could Be the NFL’s Best Backup

Is He Too Good to Be Backup but Not Good Enough to Start?

July 19, 2023 325 2 minutes readNFL Picks & Parlays

Marcus Mariota’s Stats: Well-Traveled “Star” Could Be the NFL’s Best Backup — GRANT HALVERSON / GETTY IMAGES

This March, Marcus Mariota signed a one-year deal to play for the Super Bowl. One look at Marcus Mariota’s stats, coupled with his main role on Netflix’s Quarterback docies, shows that this man is no ordinary backup. And yet here he is.

Marcus Mariota’s Career

From Heisman Trophy Winner to Journeyman

Mariota was selected second overall by the NCAA. He turned the Titans around in just his second season. In fact, Marcus Mariota’s stats with Tennessee were solid though nothing spectacular.

In his first four seasons with Tennessee, Mariota threw for 12,004 yards, 69 touchdowns, and 42 interceptions. His er rating averaged 89.4 and posted a 27-28 QB record. But of course, this was not good enough for a quarterback expected to be a franchise player. So Mariota, on top of getting hurt, was benched in favor of Ryan Tannehill.

While Tannehill led the Titans’ resurgence, Mariota became expendable. The team did not renew his contract and he then signed with Las Vegas to backup Derek Carr. In his 11 appearances in two seasons, he scored three total touchdowns.

The Hawaiian then earned another shot at starting as NFL stats indicate, Mariota posted similar numbers playing for a losing Falcons team.

Once again, he was benched in favor of another quarterback: rookie Desmond Ridder. The younger QB showed enough promise to get Atlanta to cut Mariota after the season. Now, he finds himself back as a backup.

Marcus Mariota’s Player Profile & Stats

Mariota was a football legend prior to making the NFL. He became the first Hawaii-born athlete and the first Oregon football player to win the Heisman Trophy. The then-20-year-old had a big fanbase before debuting in the NFL with his jersey topping sales charts.

Career Stats

Marcus Mariota’s stats signify that of an accurate dual-threat quarterback. However, his below-average er rating and under .500 win-loss record also show his limitations as a play-caller.

ING:

ATT: 2,095
CMP: 1,312
CMP%: 62.6
YDS: 15,656
Y/A: 7.5
TD: 92
INT: 54
Y/G: 180
RATE: 89.3

RUSHING:

ATT: 349
YDS: 2,012
TD: 17
Y/A: 5.8
Y/G: 23.1
LNG: 87

Still, under 30 years old, Mariota has plenty of years left for his NFL career. He may never be the star he was drafted to be. But he is good enough to hold a steady job and occasionally become a start. In fact, the Eagles are the best team he’s been on per NFL betting. So if Hurts gets injured and Mariota fills in, he could post his best season yet.

For Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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July 19, 2023

325 2 minutes read