Mariota #1 QB on top analyst’s rankings … In a bit of a switch, NFL.com’s Mike Mayock, arguably one of the most influential draft analysts out there, rates Oregon QB Marcus Mariota as the top prospect at the position for this month’s draft ahead of Jameis Winston of Florida State, the presumptive first pick in this year’s draft. Of course, that’s Mayock’s opinion and it isn’t likely going to give Tampa Bay, which has the top pick overall and is expected to take Winston, much pause. However, the fact that a top analyst like Mayock has Mariota rated as the top QB this year, lends some credence to the notion that the former Oregon star is indeed a very good prospect in a thin year at the position and could indeed generate some trade up chatter. Mariota is currently in Tennessee and will meet with the Titans’ staff tomorrow; that after he worked out for Tampa Bay on Monday, a workout which the Buccaneers described as ‘outstanding.’ And if all that might have Tampa Bay rethinking its apparent choice of Winston with the top pick, it sure doesn’t look like it after the Buccaneers had Winston throw all of 25 passes in his workout with them on Wednesday. For the record, here are Mayock’s top 5 by position. Among several other interesting grades, Mayock appears to have actually moved Nebraska OLB Randy Gregory up (from 4th to 2nd) in his rankings of the outside edge rushers despite the fact he tested positive for marijuana at the combine.
