Commanders Next New QB: Tom Brady, Derek Carr or Baker Mayfield, Anybody?
ASHBURN, Va. -- All offseason long there's going to be a growing group of Washington Commanders fans who want to see Sam Howell get a legitimate shot at becoming the team's No. 1 quarterback.
With Howell leading the Commanders in Week 18, the team ran first, passed later, and relied on play-action while the rookie improvised intelligently when needed.
The result was a 20-point win over the hated Dallas Cowboys - a playoff team that entered the weekend with the top seed in the NFC Playoff race mathematically attainable.
But on Tuesday, speaking for the last time (for a while) before fully diving into future planning, general manager Martin Mayhew said Washington wouldn't be discouraged from pursuing another veteran just because the past two (Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Wentz) didn't pan out.
Later, he also gave a general, but specific-enough list of attributes he's looking for in the next starting quarterback.
NFL-level arm strength, leadership qualities, and the ability to improvise.
In a one-game sample size, Howell can maybe say "check'' to all three.
But, if there's a veteran to be acquired, which is the right one?
The idea of Aaron Rodgers (vs. Howell) is touched on here. For our money, and for that question, we present three options, in no particular order.
THE PIPE DREAM: Free Agent QB Tom Brady
Could the greatest of all time join Washington in 2023 to try and resurrect yet another NFL franchise?
Before Brady came in for an injured Drew Bledsoe for the New England Patriots back in 2001, the franchise hadn't had a playoff win since 1997.
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their dry spell was even longer, spanning 17 seasons without a postseason win.
This season marks 17 since Washington last witnessed a playoff win. Coincidence?
Yes.
But we can dream, can't we?
WHERE HE FITS: Leadership and NFL Arm
WHERE HE LACKS: Ability to Improvise
THERE'S A CHANCE: Trade Target QB Derek Carr
The Las Vegas Raiders and their quarterback are clearly done with each other.
But there may not be a better leader with a bigger chip on his shoulder entering this offseason than Carr.
And better yet, there are many who speculate the Raiders won't be able to trade his contract and will have to release him outright, thus leaving the door open for Carr to choose his destination.
While we don't see him as the "revenge'' type, he will want to go somewhere he can lead, start, and win.
Could he be the man for this job, and potentially provide a solid multi-year runway for Howell to continue developing behind the scenes?
Well, there's a chance.
And while we list his ability to improvise as something he lacks here, it's not nearly as much a deficiency as with Brady.
WHERE HE FITS: Leadership and NFL Arm
WHERE HE LACKS: Ability to Improvise
THE 'PERFECT' FIT (Maybe): Free Agent QB Baker Mayfield
There's a lot to unpack here, and we will as the offseason progresses.
But Mayfield - not "perfect'' in the literal sense but rather in the "attainable'' sense - obviously has NFL arm talent, and his ability to improvise is one of the features that make him so much fun (read: "electric'' and "terrifying'' at the same time) to watch.
As with any gunslinging quarterback, there are high moments, and lows.
And there are just as many who question his leadership and maturity as there are who support his ability to be an NFL team's frontman.
He's going to be one of the more interesting career studies this offseason as he pumped some life into his career at season's end with the Rams, and joining a Washington team with a mountain of outside doubt heaped onto it, is right up Mayfield's alley.
WHERE HE FITS: NFL Arm and Ability to Improvise
WHERE HE LACKS: Leadership?
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82 and on the Locked On Commanders podcast.
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