4 contenders for the Washington Commanders first-round pick in 2023

Washington Commanders could draft Anthony Richardson

• Quarterback | Florida Gators

After their trade to acquire Carson Wentz went horribly wrong, the Washington Commanders must get their next move right under center. If they don’t, it’s likely to come with grave ramifications for head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew.

Sam Howell demonstrated enough qualities to at least compete for the starting job in 2023. Wentz is unlikely to be around, so whether the Commanders explore the draft or go down the veteran route remains to be seen.

If they opt for a longer-term solution, then Anthony Richardson is an obvious name to watch. The Florida product is raw, but he could have the biggest upside of any signal-caller emerging from the college ranks this year.

Richardson’s athleticism is absolutely extraordinary and key areas such as pocket presence came on as the season progressed. This represents the sort of dual-threat quarterback Rivera had plenty of success with during his time on the Carolina Panthers after selecting Cam Newton in 2011.

While it’s unfair to compare Richardson to Newton, the similarities are obvious. Asking the incoming prospect to start immediately might be pushing things, although his encouraging trajectory indicates that he might be ready to assume command sooner than many analysts envisage.

If the Commanders identify Richardson as their top option, they might have to move up. Whether that’s a risk worth taking or not is up to the front office.