Niner Noise
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NFL hot seat: 5 quarterbacks who will be under pressure in 2019

By Peter Panacy

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gets interviewed after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 27-9 at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gets interviewed after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 27-9 at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 6: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans makes his way off the field after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-9 at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 6: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans makes his way off the field after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-9 at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

It’s kind of unfair to lump Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota in this crop. After all, Mariota ended up respectfully bouncing back from a frustrating 2017 campaign with nearly a 70-percent completion percentage and 92.3 passer rating last year.

That said, Mariota’s total passing numbers were way down, falling to 2,528 passing yards with just 11 touchdowns — both career lows.

Granted, Tennessee’s wholesale coaching changes last year could have had something to do with it, as Mariota was forced to learn a new offense. And there will be another change in 2019, with former offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur leaving for the Green Bay Packers’ head coaching job, being replaced by Titans assistant, Arthur Smith.

Oh, and the Titans’ efforts to supply Mariota with offensive weaponry hasn’t exactly panned out, either.

After an excellent 2016 campaign, the former Oregon Duck and No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 draft finds himself on the NFL hot seat more by context and situation than anything else.

It also makes things provocative, considering Mariota is playing on his fifth-year option and has yet to get that lucrative contract extension. Should he get it soon, consider him off the NFL hot list.

For now, he’s under the pressure.