It is the rumor that won’t die, the speculation that continues to soar: Marcus Mariota for Philip Rivers.

Quarterback of the future for one of the present.

As the April 30 NFL Draft day moves closer, the Mariota-for-Rivers swap has emerged as the most intriguing of a Grand Bazaar of trade scenarios surrounding the University of Oregon Heisman Trophy winner.

It is the kind of bold blockbuster that would bring a smile to embattled Commissioner Roger Goodell’s face at the podium in Chicago.

"If it were to happen … Tennessee would get what it wants and San Diego would wind up getting what it wants and I think it would be a deal that both sides would be very happy with," ESPN Draft analyst Todd McShay said on a media conference call.

For all the drama and machinations that can surround a first-round quarterback pick, this one makes a lot of sense.

Tennessee has the second pick of the draft, which it could use to select Mariota or someone else or broker a trade. All assuming, of course, that Tampa Bay takes ex-Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first pick as most project.

With Rivers wanting out of San Diego, where he is entering the final year of his contract, the opening is there for the Titans to grab a proven 11-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Somebody who, at age 33, still has some good years left as well as a history and strong rapport with Titans head Ken Whisenhunt from their days together with the Chargers.

Meanwhile the Chargers, who hold the No. 17 pick, can scoop up a 21-year-old Mariota to build upon, somebody whose value is well above what his present draft position would normally allow.

It recalls, roughly, the changing of the guard that took place in Indianapolis three years ago, when Andrew Luck succeeded Peyton Manning.

"It is not apples to apples with the Peyton Manning situation, but I think you can learn from that if you are San Diego and realize you have the chance to get the quarterback in Mariota …" McShay said. "I guess — I don’t know without asking him, specifically — but my guess is that he would love to play in San Diego."

It wasn’t exactly Mariota’s dream from a childhood — he favored the Dallas Cowboys — but has become a more recent, closer-to-home preference.

Last summer in a side-by-side appearance at the Downtown Athletic Club with Manti Te’o, Mariota wished out loud about joining the Punahou School graduate in San Diego — though at the time the possibility seemed far fetched because Rivers was viewed as a fixture.

Since then, Mariota, we’re told, has come to further appreciate San Diego while doing his pre-combine training at the Prolific Athletes complex in Carlsbad, Calif.

All things considered, the Chargers are a far better place for Mariota to land than some other fates that could befall him if the trade isn’t made.

With nine days before the draft a lot of other things could happen to derail the deal, of course. Here’s hoping that they don’t.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.