Skip to content

5 possible destinations for Zach Mettenberger

Derik Hamilton / USA TODAY Sports

Just over a year after some fans were making the case not to draft Marcus Mariota in favor of Zach Mettenberger, the Tennessee Titans announced the release of their 2014 sixth-round pick.

Mettenburger had been talked about as a potential starter after displaying his talents through six starts in his rookie season, but failed to register a single win through ten starts over a two-year span. With Mariota set to start every game in his team's foreseeable future, and journeyman Matt Cassel ready for spot duty, the Titans saw no need to keep the 24-year-old backup.

Related: Titans waive Zach Mettenberger

Right now, the young pass thrower is a borderline starter, better suited to back up and learn from a veteran. He has the arm talent to be an NFL starter one day, but his mental game still has a long way to go.

Without much left on the quarterback free-agency market, Mettenberger will get another shot with an NFL franchise. Here are five teams who should sign the former LSU signal-caller to help improve their quarterback depth.

Denver Broncos

At one point in this offseason, the only quarterback on the Broncos' roster was Northwestern quarterback Trevor Siemian, whose only NFL play was a kneel down, and was a seventh-round selection in the draft. John Elway appears to be setting up a competition between trade-acquisition Mark Sanchez and first-round pick Paxton Lynch to determine his team's Week 1 starter, so why not throw another arm in there?

Mettenberger isn't a clear upgrade over either Sanchez or Lynch, but he does have talent and could surprise the Broncos in camp. It's doubtful Elway would say no to adding competition. Denver has two receivers better than anyone Mettenberger played with in Tennessee, and a defense that's won a Super Bowl with below-average quarterback play the year before.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts were forced to call upon someone not named Andrew Luck to play nine games at quarterback last season. Matt Hasselbeck had eight starts, while Josh Freeman suited up for one, but neither remain on the Colts roster. Former Green Bay Packer back-up Scott Tolzien is Luck's current second-stringer, with little competition behind him. Tolzien played the bulk of three games as a Packer all in the 2013 season, finishing with two losses and a tie.

If the Colts are forced to deal with more injury troubles from Luck, putting the ball in Mettenberger's hands may be a better option than Tolzien. Luck has taken a lot of hits through his career, and his team didn't do a lot to improve his protection this offseason. There's an above-average chance the Colts will need someone to step in for Luck from time to time, and they won't have the services of a former starter like Hasselbeck to lean on.

New Orleans Saints

Though he probably won't admit it any time soon, Drew Brees isn't going to last forever. The Saint's starting quarterback is 37 years old, without an heir apparent on the roster. Garrett Grayson hasn't gotten much love since being drafted in the third round last season, and there's not much promise in 34-year-old Luke McCown to become a late-career starter.

Mettenberger played his college ball just down the road in Baton Rouge, and has the raw talent to become a starter if he can learn from a legend like Brees. The Saints brought in former-LSU quarterback Matt Flynn for help last season, and have often enjoyed bringing in local products.

San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers has reportedly teased the idea of retiring in each of the last two offseasons, and it's quite rare for an athlete to last very long once the idea of retirement has crept in their mind. Like the Saints, the Chargers don't have a replacement plan after Rivers decides to hang 'em up. Kellen Clemens, 32, is a passable backup, but he doesn't have any starter potential.

Mettenberger started six games as a rookie for then-Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who now serves as the Chargers' offensive coordinator. He already has experience in the system, more starter potential than anyone not starting, and time to learn how to be a pro from Rivers.

Also, there aren't many places in the NFL better to live than San Diego.

Arizona Cardinals

After much pre-draft speculation about the playoff success of Carson Palmer, the Cardinals elected not to select a quarterback in the 2016 draft. Bruce Arians remains confident that Palmer can get it done, but the clock is ticking on the 36-year-old field general who has had a history of injury troubles. Drew Stanton has performed admirably when asked to play, but he is much better served as a backup.

Mettenberger has a similar skill set to Palmer, as well as the ability to get the ball deep - a necessity in Arians' offense. He carries himself with the confidence of a starter (another big plus in Arians' books) and would be surrounded by one of the league's most-talented teams.

If there is any part of the Cardinals' front office that doesn't believe Palmer can get it done in the playoffs, Mettenberger may be the best replacement option available for Arians' system.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox