The Washington Commanders are still in assessment mode this summer. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn will have a good lay of the land by now, but there is still time for plans to change.
Even so, one preseason game brought to the forefront what appears to be an easy cut later this summer.
Sam Hartman is in his third offseason with the Commanders. He was looking to cement his status as the QB3 and earn his place on the squad this season, but Peters' decision to spend a seventh-round selection on Athan Kaliakmanis threw a wrench into his plans.
Sam Hartman hasn't progressed enough to justify Commanders' faith
The progression just isn't evident. Hartman doesn't appear capable of becoming a competent NFL quarterback, and Kaliakmanis far outperformed him in Washington's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. The necessary strides haven't been made, so the Commanders need to decide when the tipping point is for the 2024 undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame.
And that might be soon.
It already looks like the best Hartman can hope for is a place on the practice squad once again. He's good buddies with Jayden Daniels, and he knows how to run scout team. But if confidence in Kaliakmanis continues to increase, even that is no longer a sure thing.
Nobody was expecting miracles from Hartman on Friday night. The signal-caller never really looked in sync with his pass-catchers. He doesn't go through his progressions effectively, and his decision-making leaves a lot to be desired. That's a dangerous combination for every aspiring NFL quarterback.
Hartman has no doubt built some strong connections in Washington, but that cannot be his saving grace forever.
Sam Hartman's best case is getting a place on Commanders' practice squad again
The Commanders are expected to take three quarterbacks onto the team, though much will depend on the health of Marcus Mariota. Hartman is at the bottom of the pile right now, and he probably knows what's coming next once Washington's final preseason game is done and dusted.
Then, it'll be an anxious wait to see if he gets a place on the practice squad for the third straight year.
In all honesty, that could go either way.
Hartman's familiarity could be enough. But if the Commanders get the chance to acquire another intriguing development project, Peters should seriously consider the possibility.
Things are not looking especially promising for Hartman. Not being able to shine against a less-than-stellar Dolphins defense was another setback. Time is running out, and his aspirations in the league are starting to look like a lost cause.
Kaliakmanis has the upside. And if Mariota is forced to miss time, the Commanders would likely bring in another veteran rather than push the rookie or Hartman into roles they are not ready for.
They were right to see if Hartman's college flashes could become something more, but this might be a pretty good time to move on for good.
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