Philip Rivers a Titan? Marcus Mariota a Charger? Not as wacky as it sounds

Guilty as charged. A few weeks ago, we unveiled our post-free agency mock draft and predicted a stunner at No. 17: The San Diego Chargers drafting UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.

(Yeah, we heard from more than one Chargers fans on that one.)

We admit it: It was a cheap sportswriting parlor trick, projecting Hundley there when we full well knew that was not going to happen in this universe. But what we had heard — that the Chargers had been sniffing hard around Marcus Mariota — was not something we were prepared to write in great detail about.

Now we feel comfortable saying that the Chargers have done their homework (a lot of it) on Mariota, and in the where-there's-smoke-there's-fire department, our eyes perked up when we read the dispatch from the Tennessean's David Climer that the Tennessee Titans are not likely to draft Mariota at No. 2.

So how are we making the Chargers connection? Well, the Titans haven't thrown bouquets at Zach Mettenberger after his up-and-down rookie season, and the team likely still wants another quarterback with starting experience to add to the mix.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who has great respect for Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, might be very interested if he became available. Why would he? Well, his contract is up after this year, and Rivers has no interest in extending his deal before the end of the season. The Titans would love to add Rivers, who grew up about 100 miles south of Nashville and who might instantly be the Titans' best QB since Steve McNair.

Would the Chargers and Titans do a Rivers-for-No. 2 pick swap? It's fascinating to consider. There might have to be other sweeteners added to the deal, on one side or the other, but it would be a trade that would have merit for both sides.

The Titans have the salary cap space and need to add credibility. The Chargers could reload at QB and have a coach (Mike McCoy) who has worked with triggermen of various skills and has had success doing so. It might be a perfect situation for both.

And we promise: We'll limit our misdirection when we can leading up to the draft and all the smoke that follows that.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm