Is it bold to proclaim that a quarterback who has only started one NFL game can be the face of a franchise moving forward? Absolutely it is, but when a franchise like the Washington Commanders, who have had poor luck with quarterbacks overall for decades.
However, that is where I have found myself when it comes to Sam Howell who started the last game of this past season. In the game against the historic rival Dallas Cowboys, Howell ended the game with 169 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while completing 11-19 passes.
Howell is the future at quarterback for the Washington Commanders
On the surface, this doesn’t seem that impressive, but he was able to command the offense and make reads so easily. That shouldn’t be surprising considering how well he played in college at UNC.
In three years of college, he had 10,283 yards passing, 92 touchdowns, and only 23 interceptions. He’s also a duel threat as he ran for 1009 yards and 17 touchdowns. If he can prove he consistently plays as he did in college, then Washington is in good hands.
Outside of Howell, the Commanders don’t have too many options. Taylor Heinicke is a fan favorite, but also a free agent and at best a high-end backup. Carson Wentz is all but gone, there’s a chance he will be a backup if he isn’t out of the league altogether.
The big names veterans like Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers aren’t likely to land in Washington via trade. Jimmy Garoppolo and Geno Smith are the best free agents on the market, but they aren’t going to be the face of the franchise.
The Commanders have too high of a draft pick to get a franchise quarterback in this draft. With all of that in mind, Howell has the resume and potential to be that for the Washington Commanders.