Tennessee Titans sign QB Marcus Mariota to four-year contract
Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota became the final first-round of the 2015 NFL draft to sign with his team on Tuesday, completing a four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, the team announced.
Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo estimates the deal is worth a guaranteed $24.2 million plus a $15.9 million signing bonus. The team did not immediately announce the financial terms of the deal.
Preventing the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner from signing earlier was a disagreement between the quarterback and the franchise over whether offset language should be included in Mariota’s contract.
The two sides eventually compromised by inserting partial offset language in the contract according to Garafolo as well as NFL Network reporter Rand Getlin.
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Offsets allow teams to pay only the difference between the player's original contract his new contract in the event the player signs with another team before his original contract expires. This prevents players from “double-dipping,” or simultaneously receiving the original money guaranteed to them by a former team as well as money promised by a new team.
Mariota threw for 42 touchdowns last season while leading the Ducks to a national championship appearance. He ranked third last season among all FBS quarterbacks with 4,454 yards.
Titans players are scheduled to report to training camp on July 30.
