A visit by Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota to the Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, on Thursday came two days after a private workout in Eugene in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers executives who hold the top selection.



Each team faces uncertainty at quarterback, both in which QBs are on their rosters and how they'll pick between the top quarterbacks in this draft.



The Titans list second-year pros Zach Mettenberger and Alex Tanney and 10th-year journeyman Charlie Whitehurst on their roster. Like the Bucs, the Titans sent a large contingent to watch recent pro day workouts of both Mariota and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, who is considered by many analysts as the likely No. 1 pick when the first round is announced April 30.



Mariota arrived in Nashville wearing a shirt in the Titans' shade of light blue, but he wasn't the only visitor Thursday: USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams also visited with Titans executives such as coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster. Like Mariota, Williams is projected as a likely top-five pick.



Mariota's trip was about selling himself, an aspect of the draft process he acknowledged he wasn't fond of, in an interview with TitansOnline.com.



"That's something that's outside my comfort zone but again, this entire process is getting you outside your comfort zone and being able to put you in uncomfortable situations and seeing how you react," Mariota said. "I think I've done a good job."



"I don't really care where I go," he said. "I just want to be in a position where the team loves you. That's all you want, is an opportunity."



At least one draft analyst believes Mariota will get that opportunity in Tennessee.



ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. moved Mariota up from sixth -- a New York Jets pick -- to second in his latest mock draft, published Thursday.



"As I've said before, I think Mariota has done as much as he can to show he wasn't just a system guy at Oregon," Kiper Jr. wrote. "I wouldn't want to start him right away in 2015, but you can't question Mariota's physical profile or his potential to improve and grow as an NFL quarterback given his attitude and work habits."



Mariota's rise in Kiper Jr.'s mock draft came one day after NFL.com analyst Mike Mayock slipped Mariota ahead of Winston as his best quarterback in the draft.



"He threw 18 interceptions this year," Mayock said of his rankings switch during an NFL Network interview Wednesday. "And on a team that arguably had the best talent in the country, he continued to put his team at a disadvantage almost weekly."



It will take a few more weeks to know whether Mariota put himself in contention to be the Titans' future starter.

Back in Eugene, his former Ducks teammates will get ready for their sixth of 15 practices of spring football on Friday.



Onto the links:



Will this news make fans attend more UO basketball games next winter?

T.J. Daniel has a lot to gain along Oregon's defensive line.

Oregon LB Eddie Heard can throw a mean fastball.

Oregon's own QB competition continues.

Civil War baseball is back tonight at PK Park. A preview.

Oregon's catcher might be its best pro pitching prospect.

The Emerald examines the state of baseball at UO and OSU.

The Pac-12 blog examines six offseason questions.



-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

503-221-8100

@andrewgreif