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This time of the football year always manages to create some crazy stories. Perhaps the craziest among them so far is this idea that the San Diego Chargers will offer a massive package, including Philip Rivers, to the Tennessee Titans, wind up with the No. 2 overall pick and draft Marcus Mariota to take over. No doubt that scenario greatly benefits the Chargers, but the Titans get so little in return that the whole idea is barely based in reality anymore.
This whole thing started with the report that Rivers wouldn’t want to play for the Chargers in the event the team is moved to Los Angeles. First off, there are zero concrete plans right now to move the Chargers. There are factors that exist that make that a possibility, but there’s nothing anyone can rely on 100 percent. And there’s also the fact that the Chargers may not be willing to concede and trade Rivers away. So this whole trading-Rivers-away angle is based on the two shaky premises that the team is moving and that they would even acquiesce to Rivers’ wishes.
Secondly, consider what value Rivers would have to other teams. There is no doubting the fact that Rivers is a top quarterback in the NFL who can put up stats, but there’s his age to consider — he’s going to be 34 at the end of the 2015 season. There’s also his physical makeup to consider. Not only is he on the downside of his career naturally, but he’s taken a pounding out there in San Diego. Anyone trading for Rivers is not getting a fresh quarterback with years left in his career. While he’s good now, he’s due to start breaking down sooner rather than later.
Thirdly, you have to consider the Titans in this scenario. Rivers does not have the kind of value to them that they should trade away the No. 2 overall pick for. As good as he is, you’re not trading for what he’s done, but what he can do for you years down the line. Three years of a declining Rivers isn’t all that much value, especially not when you have Zach Mettenberger who they like to some extent. If the Titans were a quarterback away from winning they might do this deal. But the fact is they’re not. Plus, if Mariota is that good why wouldn’t the Titans just draft and build around him?
Finally, consider the fact that San Diego isn’t in a position to mortgage the future for Mariota. They are not a team one player away from a Super Bowl; they need offensive line depth, a nose tackle, more pass catching playmakers and have a glaring hole at running back to fill. This draft needs to find answers to those problems if San Diego wants to take a serious run at the Denver Broncos, not swap out a veteran quarterback for a rookie with plenty of questions to his game.
It’s a fun idea to ponder and dissect, but unless the parameters change significantly I don’t expect Rivers and the Chargers to split anytime soon. It’s a whole lot of risk and a lot of relative value given up all to solve a hypothetical problem that may or may not even happen. Enjoy the rumors while you can but don’t get too caught up in them.
Doug Green is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL. Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL.
