Washington Football Team: Five “don’ts” in 2021 free agency
By Ian Cummings
No. 3 – DON’T try and rationalize indulging this batch of quarterbacks
You may have noticed that the common theme here is “Don’t overpay.”
The Washington Football Team needs a starting quarterback. But in the 2021 free agent class, one could make an argument that no signal caller available deserves starter money. And yet, with the high demand and low supply, combined with the price of the position continually being driven up, some players will be paid more than what they’re worth.
Who are the top names in the 2021 free agent quarterback class, you ask? Mitchell Trubisky, Andy Dalton, Tyrod Taylor, and Jacoby Brissett are a few with previous starting experience. There’s also Marcus Mariota, if he ultimately gets released by the Raiders. And even Jameis Winston might break free if New Orleans is unable to retain him.
Winston is intriguing after a year with Sean Payton, but overall this class just screams “forced solution”, and any team that banks on one of these quarterbacks to rebound, more likely than not, will regret that decision later on.
There’s also Cam Newton, who bears extra significance for the Washington Football Team because of his relationship with Ron Rivera. But even Newton seems underwhelming. He turns 32 this offseason, and he’s coming off a year in which he passed for eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Yes, he was still a formidable running threat, and yes, his supporting cast was very bad. But Newton himself looked to be past his prime as well. He’d offer an excellent leader and locker room presence for Washington, but anything less than a full-measure is a waste, and ultimately, that’s what Newton feels like as well.
The Washington Football Team should not distort their high demand for a quarterback into a belief that the necessary quarterback is out there. This year, it looks like that’s not the case, and if the Washington Football Team can’t find a cost-effective solution, they should bypass the free agent class altogether, and spend money more efficiently at other positions.