Zach Mettenberger: I could beat out Winston or Mariota for starting spot
Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger believes that if the Titans take either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota with the team's No. 2 draft pick, he would be able to beat them out for the starting spot, Mettenberger said on Saturday.
Mettenberger spoke highly of Winston and Mariota, the two top quarterbacks in this year's draft, saying that he could compete with them and retain his starting spot.
"They are obviously very talented guys," Mettenberger said. "...If they were here I think they would say the same thing: If we had to compete out there, I think I'd beat them out."
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Mettenberger, who played three seasons at LSU, appearing in 30 games and throwing for 5,783 yards, played in seven games for the Titans last season, starting six of them.
Tennessee went 0-7 with the 23-year-old under center. Mettenberger completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,412 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Mettenberger dealt with a shoulder injury during the 2014 season, sustaining a season-ending injury during the team's 36-7 loss to the New York Giants on Dec. 7. He missed the final three games of the Titan's 2-14 season.
Titan's general manager Ruston Webster said earlier this week that the team was happy with Mettenberger, but would evaluate both Winston and Mariota. He did not elaborate on how Tennessee would use its draft pick.
"We like Zach and I think Zach has the tools to play and start in the league," Webster said. "...and we have to do our due diligence all the way through. Zach knows we are going to do that, and this is just kind of part of it."
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Mettenberger said during his appearance on Saturday that Webster had been forthright with him, and that there had been "no smoke and mirrors" regarding the situation.
- Christopher Woody
