After three seasons under head coach Ron Rivera, the Washington Commanders still have no definitive answer at quarterback. Washington still has a question mark at the most important position in football.
In the last two seasons, the Commanders have turned to season veterans but to no avail. Despite failed projects with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Wentz in back-to-back seasons, the Commanders are not ruling out going the same route a third season in a row.
“We’re not going to rule out acquiring a vet,” Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. “We’re going to look at the entire landscape.”
The Commanders franchise has been yearning for a franchise quarterback for decades. Kirk Cousins was the closest to becoming the answer, but contract negotiations led to him walking away to the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 after two franchise tags.
Since Cousins’ departure, 12 quarterbacks have played under the Commanders. Washington has started at least three quarterbacks each of the last five seasons. Injury to the veteran of choice played a large role in each situation.
The Commanders have a young quarterback on the roster, rookie and fifth-round draft pick Sam Howell. Howell made his NFL debut Sunday, starting the Commanders’ season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. He played well, throwing a touchdown on his first career pass and running in for another in Washington’s 26-6 win.
Yet the sample size is too small to write Howell in pen as a viable option next season. Washington currently holds the 16th pick in this year’s NFL draft. Is that too late to draft a quarterback with an immediate impact?
Regardless, Rivera believes the quarterback search this time around can yield better results.
“I think going into it, we’re in a much better place,” Rivera said.
If the Commanders turn to another veteran, names such as Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, and Jimmy Garoppolo stand in the forefront.
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