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How the Commanders should address the QB situation

By Jonathan Eig

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JANUARY 08: Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on January 08, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JANUARY 08: Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on January 08, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Commanders QB Free Agent Targets

Technically, Tom Brady will be on the market this off-season. He ain’t coming to Washington. Former high draft picks like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold could be available. I actually still like Darnold, but this would not be a good situation for him. It would be very hard to sell the fan base on yet another older veteran the likes of Jimmy G or Teddy B.

Then there’s Lamar Jackson. If he actually does hit free agency, how can not consider him? I don’t think it will come to that because I think Baltimore will either re-sign or franchise him, but you never know. The main question for any team that wants to sign Lamar is whether you will agree to his demand for a fully guaranteed contract. Minnesota did it for Kirk Cousins and Cleveland did it for Deshaun Watson. But neither of those players had the injury history that Lamar has. Guaranteeing his contract is a huge gamble.

If he backs off that demand, you have to do whatever you can to sign him. Elite QBs like that don’t often become available. If he doesn’t, I think you have to walk away and let someone take the gamble.

I am going to assume for now that the Giants will work out a deal with Daniel Jones, so I will not consider him until such time as both sides announce he is available.

So if you’re the Commanders, you find a veteran backup who you like. That Heinicke kid would be acceptable, but I think he is looking for more than the Commanders will give.

A couple years ago, just before Washington singed Ryan Fitzpatrick, I argued that Tyrod Taylor would be the perfect bridge QB, while Washington scouted around for a long-term answer and continued to build the rest of the team. Now, with Howell in place, Washington doesn’t even need the bridge. They just need the veteran presence to provide depth. Jacoby Brissett should be sitting out there at a very reasonable price. He strikes me as the perfect guy to play behind Howell.

But really, we won’t even need him. Because, as I proved at the beginning, Sam Howell is the next Patrick Mahomes. Happy days are here again. I doubt we’ll even need another quarterback for the next decade.

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