Raiders to release QB Marcus Mariota if he doesn't take big pay cut?

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota will soon have to decide if he wants to stay put or bet on himself via the open market. 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra) reports that the Raiders have asked the second overall pick of the 2015 draft to accept a pay cut from the $10.725 million he's owed to $3 million to provide salary-cap relief. Mariota's contract carries no dead cap money for 2021, so the Raiders can and will release him without suffering any hit if he declines. 

Back on Feb. 10, Rapoport noted the Raiders were receiving calls about potentially trading for Mariota but then explained weeks later that incentives attached to his contract turned teams off. With the salary cap decreasing by nearly $16 million for 2021, suitors may wait for Mariota to become a free agent and then try to sign him on a one-year "prove it" deal.

A harsh reality working against the 27-year-old is that clubs such as the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts already acquired signal-callers, while the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets hope to land players they believe are better options than Mariota. 

It's possible the Houston Texans could add both Tyrod Taylor and Mariota to their quarterback room with unsettled starter Deshaun Watson demanding a trade amid concerning and disturbing allegations of assault made against the 25-year-old.