Zach Mettenberger takes lead in Titans' offseason

The Titans will have the option of picking either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Titans could trade for veteran Philip Rivers — if the Chargers want to deal him.

But right now, Zach Mettenberger is the team's starting quarterback, and he's playing the part.

Case in point: A handful of Titans have been working out together in Nashville, and players say Mettenberger is the one who organized the workouts.

"If you ask me, I think that's definitely a good sign for him,'' Titans running back Dexter McCluster said of Mettenberger. "That's the first step, him showing that leadership and him knowing, 'Hey, this may be my shot, so let me go ahead and get a head start on it.'

"And guys respond to him. I think that says a lot."

The Titans are scheduled to begin their offseason program on Monday at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mettenberger wanted players to get a jump on things, so he sent out a mass text to a group of skill players asking them to throw and work out together away from the facility.

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NFL rules prohibit players from working out as a group at the facility at this point in the offseason.

The players have met several times this week at Father Ryan High School. In addition to McCluster and Mettenberger, tight end Delanie Walker has worked out with the group, along with the team's top three receivers — Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Harry Douglas, who was signed last month after playing with the Falcons.

"Our quarterback, Zach, is a young guy and he is stepping up," Wright said. "He is more than ready to play, and we all are following Zach, just going out there and getting him ready and running the things he wants to run, some of the things he wants to do. It's rained a couple of times when we've been throwing, but that didn't stop us. We just kept going.

"I think we all have a lot of respect for Zach. With him trying to be the leader, it is a good thing. And he is going to be the leader if he is going to be our quarterback. Just him texting us and everyone showing up, that's a good sign."

Right now, of course, there's no guarantee Mettenberger will be the team's starting quarterback.

A sixth-round pick out of LSU last year, Mettenberger started six games during his rookie season in 2015 and threw for a team-high 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, and Charlie Whitehurst finished the year. He showed promise, no doubt. The Titans also liked the commitment he displayed in the classroom as well.

Still, the Titans are doing their homework on the top two quarterback prospects in the draft — Florida State's Winston and Oregon's Mariota. Both players have visited Nashville recently after team officials attended their pro days. The Titans have also been a part of widespread trade speculation surrounding Rivers, who's headed into the final year of his deal with the Chargers.

Wright, who's heading into his fourth NFL season, said he didn't hesitate when Mettenberger sent him a list of dates to work out.

"As of right now, my quarterback, and everybody else's quarterback for the Titans, is Zach Mettenberger," Wright said. "Jameis Winston, or Marcus Mariota, or Philip Rivers or whoever, they didn't text me and tell me to come down here. Zach did. So Zach Mettenberger is the quarterback, he is the guy, and that is who I am following right now."

Wright made it clear, however, he has confidence in Mettenberger.

"I do think Zach is more than capable, and he is ready for the challenge. There's some stuff to him, a different kind of swag that he has. He has some stuff to him that I love about him. And I respect him a lot," Wright said. "Right now Zach is the guy, and that is who I am rolling with until further notice. He is the quarterback until Ken Whisenhunt says otherwise."

Mettenberger, who spent the first part of the offseason recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered last season, has looked good throwing the football, teammates say.

In addition to working out, the players have also gathered for dinner and hung out.

During a speaking appearance at 104.5-FM's SportsFest earlier this offseason, Mettenberger expressed confidence when asked about Winston and Mariota.

"They are obviously very talented guys," Mettenberger said. "… If they were here, I think they would say the same thing. If we had to compete out there, I think I'd beat them out."

With two weeks left before the draft, Mettenberger is obviously staying busy, and preparing for the season.

In time more answers will come.

"I like Zach,'' McCluster said. "People ask me all the time, 'What do you think about Zach?' I say I've been around him for a year now and just seeing how he handles himself and seeing some of the things he's accomplished, I know he's going to have a good career. I think he's going to have an exceptional career."

Reach Jim Wyatt at 259-8015 or on Twitter @jwyattsports.