Former Commanders quarterbacks plunged into precarious situations

The Washington Commanders were always going to kickstart their new era with a different quarterback. Adam Peters harbors big ambitions for the franchise and had the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Opportunities like this don't come along every day, so the general manager was wise not to waste it.

Jayden Daniels was their guy. He's got the organization's hopes for genuine progress in the palm of his hand. However, this was always going to come with some collateral damage along the way.

When it became clear that the Commanders had their sights set on a college quarterback - although who exactly remained a mystery until the big night - the writing was on the wall for Sam Howell. Peters got good value for the signal-caller, trading him to the Seattle Seahawks where he was expected to back up Geno Smith in 2024.

Two former Commanders quarterbacks find themselves in precarious situations

Howell got a rough deal behind a porous offensive line during his one season as Washington's starter. A few teams around the league inquired about his availability. The former North Carolina star ended up going for much more than others such as Justin Fields and Mac Jones - two first-round picks who failed to meet their lofty expectations.

Things haven't begun well for Howell in a different environment. Gregg Bell from The News Tribune highlighted his inaccuracy as a major cause for concern. The beat writer also suggested that veteran journeyman P.J. Walker could potentially take his No. 2 spot if the same trend continues.

"So far, days before the team puts on full pads, the Washington Commanders’ starter last season is closer to competing with third QB P.J. Walker to be [Geno] Smith’s backup than he is for any of Smith’s playing time this year. Friday was Howell’s worst day yet. Seattle sent the Commanders a fourth- and a sixth-round draft pick this spring to get Howell. After practice Friday the 33-year-old Smith, 10 years older than Howell, was asked what quarterback statistics or traits he thinks are the most important. “I’ll take it back to Bill Parcells, man. The number-one thing you look at in a quarterback is accuracy,” said Smith, who led the NFL in completion percentage for Seattle in 2022, with a team-record 69.8. “Before decision-making. Before anything.""

- Gregg Bell, The News Tribune

The Seahawks won't give up on Howell so soon after his trade. He'll likely sit behind Smith for a year or two, refining his craft to potentially fill the starting void over time. That was the perceived plan, but things can change quickly in the NFL.

Things look even bleaker for another ex-Commanders quarterback.

Taylor Heinicke is buried down the Atlanta Falcons depth chart after the NFC South outfit signed Kirk Cousins in free agency and spent the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft on Michael Penix Jr. His prospects don't look especially encouraging, but the veteran is looking to play his part until he's no longer wanted based on comments via Josh Kendall from The Athletic.

"I kind of see the writing on the wall. It’s nothing I haven’t been through before. My role I think is to help Kirk [Cousins] in any way I can and the same thing with Michael [Penix Jr.]. I’ve accepted that, and I’m trying to be the best at that. The NFL stands for Not For Long, right?"

- Taylor Heinicke via The Athletic

Heinicke looks like a prime salary-cap cut candidate considering the $3 32 million in savings attached to his early departure. What the future holds for the Collins Hill High School product if this scenario comes to fruition is unclear. If nobody else provides an opportunity, a situation could emerge where he's cast aside from the league entirely.

These struggles signify the poor quarterback assessment throughout Ron Rivera's four years at the helm. Howell and Heinicke were the best of a bad bunch, in all honesty. It was one catastrophe after another. Spurning the chance to draft Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa in 2020 sparked a ripple effect the previous head coach couldn't recover from.

Peters is here to change all that. Or so every Washington fan hopes.

He's an outstanding talent evaluator who firmly believes Daniels has what it takes to turn the Commanders from also-rans into legitimate contenders. That would make all the quarterback hardship over the last few years nothing but a painful, distant memory.

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