Titans analysis: Sorry, Mettenberger; Mariota's the man

Marcus Mariota has been the talk of the town since the Titans selected him second overall in the NFL draft on April 30.

He's been on billboards, magazine covers and The Tennessean front page. When the team held its rookie minicamp last Friday, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Oregon was the center of attention.

It's not necessarily all about the quarterback in the NFL, but there's no question the position gets the most attention.

Here are five quarterback-related thoughts on the Titans:

The Titans did the right thing. Early in the offseason, I didn't necessarily believe the Titans should draft Mariota. My mind began to change leading up to the draft after being convinced the pairing could work. Now I'm convinced it was the right call.

Mariota has reenergized the fan base and made the Titans relevant again, at least for now. Even more important: he's a player with enormous potential. Seeing him in person for the first time on Friday, I was impressed with his size, arm, athleticism and approach. He looked comfortable.

Yes, the adjustment to the NFL will take time. Yes, there will be some bumps in the road. But the Titans are a lot better at the position now than they were before the draft.

There is no quarterback competition. I prefer Zach Mettenberger's "fight to the death" mentality to the "I want to be traded" vibe that surfaced on draft weekend.

The reality is Mettenberger never wanted to be traded. He was always ready to compete. The morning after Mariota was picked, the second-year pro was at the team facility working out.

Another reality: There is no real quarterback competition. Coach Ken Whisenhunt made it clear he plans on Mariota starting the season opener. The rookie will take most of the first-team reps this offseason.

If all goes according to plan, Mettenberger will be the backup until his contract expires in 2017.

Whisenhunt might want to pretend. It's probably too late to change his tune, but the coach was perhaps too bold when declaring Mariota the starter.

I like that he was honest with reporters. There was no need for mystery. Declare Mariota the guy and move on — that's exactly what Whisenhunt did.

Players, however, want to see teammates fight for and earn jobs. They don't like handouts. Several players said they're looking forward to seeing Mariota and Mettenberger "battle" in camp.

While he might have a tough time keeping a straight face, Whisenhunt should at least let his players think Mettenberger has a chance to pull the upset.

Titans should keep Charlie Whitehurst. Keeping three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster is a luxury some teams can't afford.

With a base salary of $1.75 million for 2015, Whitehurst is an expensive third-stringer.

But without the 10th-year pro, the Titans have no quarterback experience. Mettenberger has just six starts under his belt.

I expect the Titans to keep Whitehurst. He's a good locker room guy, Whisenhunt loves him and memories of last season's injury carousel are still fresh. He might be needed.

Reserve judgment on Mariota until preseason games. The rookie will have his ups and downs in practice. No one will have a true picture of how he's developing until he takes snaps in a game.

Whisenhunt pretty much said the same thing on Friday. How will Mariota truly handle being under center? How will he react to blitzing linebackers? There will be clues in practice, but only clues.

Fans can start to feel good — or start to panic — in August.

Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 and on Twitter @jwyattsports.