Two of the teams drafting in the top six (Jaguars and Raiders) didn’t send their General Managers to Oregon’s Pro Day to watch quarterback Marcus Mariota because they’re happy with their quarterbacks. The other four teams are present and accounted for.
The Bucs, Titans, and Jets are no-brainers, because they have no reliable answer at quarterback. Washington possibly does, but G.M. Scot McCloughan has made the trek to Eugene.
While McCloughan could be eyeballing other Oregon prospects, he’s definitely there to look at Mariota, per a league source. And that’s either because he’d take Mariota (who has similarities to a guy McCloughan was involved in drafting a decade ago in San Francisco, Alex Smith) or because McCloughan wants anyone drafting after No. 5 to think they’ll have to trade up to No. 5 to get Mariota if he’s still on the board after the first four picks.
And that would make the most sense for Washington. They still want to see what Robert Griffin III can become, and if Mariota remains available at No. 5, Washington will be able to shake from another team some of the extra picks that Washington gave up three years ago to get Griffin.
There’s still a chance Washington would take Mariota, but the task of adjusting Mariota to coach Jay Gruden’s offense could be as daunting as the task of adjusting Griffin to Gruden’s offense.