Mariota has generous plans for his possible salary increase

With Oakland quarterback Derek Carr the NFL’s first $125 Million Contract Man, what will that make Marcus Mariota as soon as next year?

A $130 Million Man?

It is an intriguing question and, not long after Carr signed his record five-year, $125,022,481 deal with the Raiders last month, topping Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck ($24,594,400) for average salary, it became natural to wonder. For example, where could Mariota, who followed Carr into the NFL by one season, find himself a year or two hence?

Especially if this, his third season, continues the upward arc of the previous two and delivers the once downtrodden Titans to the playoffs.

Reporters, team officials, fans and players have wondered. And, Mariota — who was in Hawaii this week — acknowledges, “Obviously we talked about it.”

But maybe not quite in the way you might expect. Unless, that is, you’ve come to accept that the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner is a remarkable young man for reasons that go way beyond his talents.

“I’m not too concerned about the amount,” Mariota said. “Obviously, I think the intended purpose of the money is to spread it (around) and, hopefully, share it with the community. And if that time comes for me, I’ll find ways to use Motiv8 (his charitable foundation) to help others.”

Mariota said, “I think that is Derek Carr’s intent as well. At least, that is what it seems like from his reaction and his press conference after his contract.”

At the time, Carr told reporters, “The exciting thing for me, money-wise, honestly, is that this money is going to help a lot of people.”

Mariota, who signed a four-year, $24,213,974 deal after being the second overall choice of the 2015 NFL Draft, is due $6.6 million in this year’s installment for base salary and signing and roster bonuses. His average salary ranks 254th among NFL players this season, according to the Spotrac.com contract website.

The Titans also hold the option for a fifth year (2019), under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, since Mariota was a first-rounder.

The Raiders did not have the same option with Carr because he was not a first-rounder. They elected to sign Carr to an extension before the final season of his rookie contract. Mariota, who has sported better early numbers than Carr, will be eligible for an extension as soon as next offseason, though Colts signal-caller Andrew Luck, also a first-round pick, did not sign his extension until after his fourth season.

Possible payoff

And, if he stays healthy this season and takes the Titans to the playoffs for the first time in eight years, it is hard to see how Tennessee doesn’t roll out the cash to deter Mariota from free agency and lock him up long term.

The situation could be mirrored in Tampa Bay, where Jameis Winston, the top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, is also poised to cash in and help drive up the going rate for franchise quarterbacks.

For the moment, as he prepares for the opening of the Titans’ training camp in Nashville, Tenn., later this month, Mariota maintains, “It is out of my control. All I can really do is focus on the field. That (contract) stuff will take care of itself.”

Meanwhile, Mariota, like Carr, puts the whole thing in a rare, and refreshing, perspective in this day and age.

“We are very blessed to play a game that we love, And, there is a lot financially that it can do,” Mariota said. “Hopefully, if it does come down to that (big contract), the money will be spread and I’ll take care of my family and, also, others that need it.”