Now that they have a new name, the Washington Commanders need a new quarterback. Here are five options for them to consider in 2022.
They have a new name now, even if it wasn’t widely approved of. The Washington Football Team will now be known as the Washington Commanders and while we could pick on them for needing two years to steal an AAF name, we instead focus on their future on the field.
Washington needs help under center as evidenced by the struggles Taylor Heinicke had in 2021. He proved he can make plenty of plays but also that there are times where he just couldn’t get it done.
With that being the case, we look at four options for the Commanders as they aim to get better under center in 2022 — and hopefully beyond.
Washington Commanders QB option No. 4: Kenny Pickett
His Senior Bowl practices have been up and down but Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett entered the week of practices as one of the more complete quarterbacks in the class. He played fantastic throughout the 2021 season and should be a first-round pick.
The question for Washington is if they see him as a player worthy of being taken at No. 9 overall. This class isn’t exactly elite under center, which makes such a move risky. However, they might need to take such a risk if they’re unable to lure a free agent or make a trade for a veteran.
Staying the course won’t get it done, so this could be as good of an option as any.
Washington Commanders QB option No. 3: Jameis Winston
A former No. 1 overall pick with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jameis Winston had a 2019 season that was incredibly interesting. He led the NFL in yardage that year with 5,109 passing yards and had 33 touchdowns. The problem is, he also led the league with 30 interceptions — the first player to have 30 of each.
Winston then became a free agent, joining countless other Tampa Bay quarterbacks who didn’t receive a second contract. Of course, he was replaced by Tom Brady who won a Super Bowl, so it’s hard to beat up on him too much for that.
Following a season on the bench with the New Orleans Saints, Winston won the starting job in 2021 and started out really well. He led them to a 5-2 start and while he completed just 59 percent of his throws, he did have 1,170 yards with a solid 14-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Sadly, an ACL and MCL injury ended his season and he’s now set for free agency. New Orleans might want him back but with head coach Sean Payton retiring, nothing is guaranteed. Should he hit the open market, the Commanders would be wise to see if he’s interested in playing in the nation’s capital. He might not be an elite player but Winston can win games and would be an upgrade.
Washington Commanders QB option No. 2: Baker Mayfield
There were rumors quickly after the regular season ended that Baker Mayfield could be a player the Washington Commanders were looking at. While the Cleveland Browns continue to claim he’s their starter going forward, there is reason to question that theory.
First, Mayfield had a terrible 2021 campaign which included him playing through several injuries. While he did push through the pain, there were rumors that he was unhappy with how the team managed him during the time and the body language between him and head coach Kevin Stefanski late in the season left a lot to be desired.
Second, this isn’t the regime that drafted Mayfield. Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry inherited him and while they did make it to the playoffs in 2020, the regression in 2021 could give them pause going forward.
Lastly, the Browns have been in contact with Kenny Pickett at the Senior Bowl. The aforementioned Pickett could be a target of the Browns and Washington might feel better about gambling the No. 9 overall pick on Mayfield than Pickett.
Baker has at least shown he can have success in the NFL and should he be fully healthy, he would be someone who could really help that Washington offense move the chains.
Washington Commanders QB option No. 1: Malik Willis
One of the hardest players to figure out in the 2022 NFL Draft is Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. The kid has a strong arm and insane running ability. However, he transferred out of Auburn to become a starter and has had some erratic throws in his time.
Still, he dazzled when he’s on his game and as Ryan Wilson of CBS says, he’s been on that game during Senior Bowl practices. Wilson said the weather isn’t slowing down the soon-to-be rookie and that he’s “coming around on.”
"“And this brings us to Malik Willis, who we’re slowly coming around on. He was the offense at Liberty in 2021, and the fact that he was tasked with carrying that unit can sometimes get lost in the evaluation, especially if the bad outweighs the good. And don’t misunderstand, Willis didn’t have a terrible season — just the opposite — but his performance was skewed by unrealistic expectations. Here’s the deal: Willis stands just six-feet tall, but he weighs 220 and is a dynamic athlete, both as a passer and a runner.” — Wilson, CBS"
Truth be told, Willis could very well be the perfect player for this team. His ability to threaten teams with his legs could truly open up the offense and while some will be worried about the way things failed with Robert Griffin III who was a dual-threat, they need to judge these two separately — and also remember RG3 was getting it done before his knee injury.
Willis is lightning in a bottle and with a team that has a talented defense, he could help them become contenders in the NFC East once again.