Will the Tennessee Titans trade away the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft?
It's a possibility, but the pick will not come cheap to any interested party.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport said Monday on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft" that the Titans are willing to play the role of the St. Louis Rams of 2012. The Rams traded down from the No. 2 spot in a blockbuster deal with the Washington Redskins that year, as Washington moved up to take Robert Griffin III.
"This is a spot that could be a potential trade, especially if somebody wants to come up for Marcus Mariota," Rapoport said. "Are the Titans interested? Talking to people familiar with their thinking, it would take a lot -- a real lot -- to move up to No. 2 and convince the Titans that it is worth giving up some potential franchise players.
"... Are they open to trading? They are, but it would take a lot to actually make it happen."
There's has been increasing speculation in recent weeks that Mariota, the consensus No. 2 quarterback in the draft (behind Florida State's Jameis Winston), could go No. 2 overall, to the Titans or a team that moves up in a trade to acquire the pick. The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner from Oregon remains high on draft boards despite a so-so pro-day performance, as the scarcity of good players at his position certainly has done nothing to hurt his stock.
It's no surprise that the cost of doing business with the Titans at No. 2 would be so high, as they might not only be passing on a chance to land Mariota, but a potential defensive cornerstone like USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams, as well, in a trade-down.
Of course, it's also possible that the team will decide to keep the No. 2 pick, grab Mariota and never look back. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt has already said that if Mariota is the Titans' pick at No. 2, he'll be a Day 1 starter.
The only certainty at this point is that the Titans will have some very good options at No. 2.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
