Zach Mettenberger will work out for Tennessee Titans
LSU Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) runs off the field. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
LSU Tigers product Zach Mettenberger is gaining a great deal of buzz in the pre-draft process, and his popularity is only increasing with each passing week. Mettenberger has one of the strongest arms in the draft class, and he broke out last season under pro-style coordinator Cam Cameron. He’s viewed as the top second-tier option at the quarterback position, and he could be a sought-after commodity this year with more teams willing to take a QB at the top of the second round. It could all be a smokescreen, but teams like the Minnesota Vikings seem to have major interest in the signal-caller who draws similarities to New England Patriots second-stringer Ryan Mallett.
The Nashville Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt reports that the Tennessee Titans are continuing to do their research on top quarterback prospects and will have Mettenberger in for a private workout later this month. Jake Locker is a former touted first-round pick and showed good signs of growth last season, but injuries cut his year short and have cast their own set of concerns on the former Washington Huskies standout. It’s a make-or-break year for Locker, and while we have every indication that new HC-OC tandem Ken Whisenhunt and Jason Michael will put their faith in Locker for one more season, the Titans are still in the market for a quarterback and could snag a second-tier passer to develop like Mettenberger in the 2nd round or later, or they could find Teddy Bridgewater too good to resist if he slips to the 11th pick.
I’m not a big fan of Mettenberger’s game, but he has excellent arm talent and flashed some “wow” throws last year with that strength. Teams need to be wary of how much he benefited from the beyond excellent WR tandem of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, but Mettenberger is worth taking a flier on as a guy with a cannon arm worth developing; I just wouldn’t count on him as a franchise guy.