How important is Jacoby Brissett to Commanders chances in 2023?

How important will veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett become to the Washington Commanders before and during the 2023 campaign?

After speculation regarding the Washington Commanders potentially selecting a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, those in power resisted the temptation. But talk of a potential trade-up for Anthony Richardson before he went No. 4 overall to the Indianapolis Colts indicates they aren't entirely sold on their current options.

Ron Rivera has hitched his wagon to Sam Howell being the starter next season and possibly beyond. The fifth-round pick was allowed to develop at his own pace as a rookie before starting the season finale, catching the eye during a convincing triumph against the Dallas Cowboys.

There could be more to come from Howell, which represents the best-case scenario. However, the Commanders got themselves a capable insurance plan in the form of free-agent signing Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett comes to the Commanders after filling in admirably until Deshaun Watson went through his lengthy suspension on the Cleveland Browns. While his limitations are obvious, the veteran can still play a pivotal role even if he doesn't do enough to win the starting job in training camp.

Jacoby Brissett can be a major asset to the Commanders

The signal-caller is going to be a tremendous asset to call upon during game week preparations. Brissett can also help Howell grasp Eric Bieniemy's creative scheme, understand route concepts more effectively, and also lend his support in terms of pre-snap reads and having the conviction to adjust accordingly.

Being the starter is obviously important to Brissett and the player wouldn't have joined Washington if he didn't feel like he could make a difference. However, being a good teammate and doing everything possible to help a talented roster reach its goals always takes priority.

"Being a good teammate will trump anything. That's been the case, no matter my role throughout my career. It's always started with being a good teammate, and the roles kind of unfold because I may need [Howell], he may need me ...Just finding ways to help each other get better for our own benefit, but also for our room, for our offense and also for this team."

- Jacoby Brissett via Commanders.com

Having Brissett and Howell pushing each other is sure to raise their respective performance levels. Rivera's stated that he'll play the person he thinks can push the Commanders to victories, even if all signs point to the former North Carolina standout getting the nod currently.

At the very worst, Brissett is a leader that has no trouble stepping in at a moment's notice to ensure no momentum is lost. A best-case scenario could also emerge where he starts Week 1 and thrives with some outstanding skill position players at his disposal.

It's something worth keeping a close eye on as the offseason progresses. No matter how it unfolds for Brissett, he remains an integral part of Howell's development in Year 2 - something that could make or break the Commanders' chances of making a playoff return.