Rookie Sam Howell takes his activate Commanders' QB carousel. Who's subsequent?

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East Reporter

In his three years working the Washington Commanders, Ron Rivera has now had eight totally different beginning quarterbacks. And the one who has began essentially the most video games for him — Taylor Heinicke, with 24 — is the one he is spent a lot of the previous 12 months attempting to exchange.

"Quarterback" is, as Rivera mentioned again in early October, the most important cause for the group's struggles. It's, as he mentioned on Wednesday, the most important drawback they've to repair.

"It comes again to the one query that is looming over all people, and that is the quarterback place," Rivera mentioned. "I used to be sort of hoping that we had discovered an answer. And who is aware of? We could not. We could have.

"We'll discover out on Sunday how we really feel about it."

On Sunday, in an otherwise-meaningless season finale towards the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders (7-8-1) will begin their third totally different quarterback of the season — rookie Sam Howell, whom they drafted out of North Carolina within the fifth spherical somewhat greater than eight months in the past. He replaces veteran Carson Wentz, whom Rivera thought was the "answer" when the Commanders traded for him final March. And Howell steps over Heinicke, who has received 12 of his 24 begins, however could not win Rivera's coronary heart.

Taylor Heinicke talks journey from XFL to NFL

Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke joins Colin Cowherd to debate his journey from the XFL to the NFL and what it took to get the place he's at this time.

Will Howell? The Commanders have been excessive on him since he arrived. And Rivera praised him for the way a lot he has improved for the reason that summer time. The coach mentioned he is "actually intrigued" to see what Howell can do on Sunday, although he promised, "We're not going to evaluate the whole lot on Sam primarily based on only one recreation."

Perhaps not, however it's nonetheless an enormous alternative as a result of the Commanders will likely be heading into the offseason questioning who their beginning quarterback will likely be subsequent season for the sixth consecutive 12 months. With a robust efficiency, Howell might no less than assure himself a seat on the quarterback carousel when it begins spinning.

However there will likely be numerous different choices for the Commanders to contemplate as they attempt to once more reply the query they've been unable to reply for a lot too a few years. This is a have a look at Washington's choices.

The rookie

Proper now, Howell might need the most effective probability of anybody on the Commanders roster to be the 2023 starter. The group is happy about his potential. Again in the summertime, one scout informed FOX Sports activities that Howell was "one of many steals of the draft." And over the previous few days, as Rivera requested gamers, coaches and others about Howell, they informed the coach they have been desirous to see him on the sphere.

"They mentioned he was prepared for his alternative," Rivera mentioned. "That was a giant a part of the rationale, simply how individuals felt primarily based on the issues we noticed."

It is nonetheless a leap of religion, although, as a result of they've solely seen him at apply and within the preseason finale when he was a powerful 24-of-35 for 280 yards and a landing, with eight carries for 62 yards towards the Baltimore Ravens.

That is his first actual check. And the stakes — for him — are large.

Extra of the identical

The Commanders did not commerce for only one 12 months of Carson Wentz. They have been hoping he'd stick round for some time. However that is over now. Rivera demoting him to 3rd string for Sunday was absolutely a sign that the 30-year-old will likely be lower this offseason earlier than the Commanders must pay him a $6.2 million roster bonus. They know there are higher methods to spend the $26.2 million he'd value them towards the '23 cap.

Disappointing return for Carson Wentz

Mark Schlereth and Adam Amin talk about the Commanders' 24-10 loss to the Browns in Week 17. Carson Wentz was disappointing in his return to the sphere after lacking a lot of the season, throwing three interceptions.

As for Taylor Heinicke, he is a free agent, and contemplating he is been shunned by Rivera twice — final offseason and once more final week — he in all probability would not wish to come again with out some ensures a few job. It is higher to maneuver on anyway. He is a fan favourite, however a restricted participant. He'll make a pleasant backup for anyone else.

Dream free brokers

First issues first: If Lamar Jackson turns into accessible, the Commanders — like some other quarterback-needy crew — wants to leap in head-first. The fee could be huge. He is reportedly already turned down a five-year, $250 million contract as a result of he desires one thing absolutely assured. He would possibly get it, too, as a result of the 25-year-old could be the most effective quarterback ever to hit free company in his prime and there is likely to be 15 groups pursuing him.

The Ravens will in all probability use the franchise tag on him, although.

If Tom Brady would not retire at age 45, he'll be a free agent and would deliver instantaneous credibility and doubtless a bunch of wins to any new crew. However he can decide his spot, and it is arduous to think about he'd select a dysfunctional crew with a head coach on the new seat. He is extra more likely to find yourself in Miami, or wherever Sean Payton lands as head coach.

Do not giggle, however one different quarterback would make this listing if he hits free company — Daniel Jones. The Giants intend to deliver him again, so it is a moot level. However one cause the Giants drafted him at No. 6 in 2019, as an alternative of with their different decide at 17, is as a result of they have been certain Washington needed him at 15 (the place the Commanders took Dwayne Haskins). After all, that was an previous Washington regime. However Jones did simply have a breakout 12 months.

Commerce targets

The Raiders are clearly performed with Derek Carr, and a number of NFL sources consider they're going to attempt to commerce him. However they must do it shortly. Proper now, there is not any assured cash left on Carr's contract, however that modifications three days after the Tremendous Bowl, based on reviews, when his $32.9 million wage for 2023 and $7.5 million of his 2024 wage grow to be assured.

The Raiders might — and doubtless would — launch Carr to keep away from these wage cap hits. Technically, they may commerce him after that deadline, too, however then they'd threat being caught with all that cash on their books.

Raiders anticipated to discover commerce choices for Derek Carr

NFL reporter Albert Breer joins Colin Cowherd to debate doable touchdown spots for Derek Carr this offseason.

The excellent news is for the reason that 31-year-old Carr is so pricey, the commerce value will not be excessive. However the Commanders determine to be about $50 million underneath the wage cap with out Wentz. Carr, who actually comes with query marks, would value about 64% of that.

Tier 2 free brokers

There will likely be numerous first rate quarterbacks accessible in free company, together with a bunch of younger ones who as soon as have been thought-about to be fairly good prospects. So if the Commanders cannot get a quarterback they like within the draft and need a young-ish veteran to compete with Howell, they may do so much worse than Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold, who're each of their mid-20s and have been the primary and third picks of the 2018 NFL draft.

An older, dearer, however presumably extra dependable choice could be 31-year-old Jimmy Garoppolo, although he'll have some choices if the 49ers do not deliver him again. After which there's Geno Smith, the shock breakout star of the season in Seattle. He is 32 and it is truthful to fret he might need been a one-year marvel. The Seahawks will certainly deliver him again to attempt to discover out.

After that, it is principally the backup brigade — gamers like Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett, and Gardner Minshew. They're all first rate quarterbacks and might be place-holders for Howell or a prospect from the draft, however they absolutely aren't long-term options to Washington's drawback.

Draft roulette

The best answer for any quarterback drawback is to draft the QB of the long run (and benefit from the financial savings from a rookie contract). However it's a threat. Simply ask the groups that handed on Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in 2018 for Mayfield, Darnold and Josh Rosen.

Additionally, the Commanders will decide someplace between tenth and seventeenth within the 2023 draft. It is early, however that just about actually will not be excessive sufficient to seize Alabama's Bryce Younger or Ohio State's C.J. Stroud. Might they be in place for Kentucky's Will Levis, Florida's Anthony Richardson or one other quarterback who rises within the months earlier than the draft? Perhaps.

However no less than 5 quarterback-needy groups are assured to draft forward of the Commanders until there are trades — the Texans, Colts, Falcons, Raiders and Panthers. The Texans might need two picks earlier than the Commanders select. The Titans might decide forward of them, too. Similar for the Lions, who would possibly need a quarterback for his or her future.

So getting a quarterback within the draft is way from a assure for the Commanders. They'd even have to attend till late April, clearly, to search out out if they may get the one they need.

Prime tales from FOX Sports activities:

Ralph Vacchiano is the NFC East reporter for FOX Sports activities, protecting the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Each day Information. Comply with him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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