NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
The Washington Commanders will be in search of a new signal caller this offseason. The Ryan Fitzpatrick experiment ended after 16 snaps when he went down with a season-ending injury. Taylor Heinicke then took over for the majority of the year. He finished the season with a 58.9 passing grade, ranking 31st out of 38 qualifying quarterbacks.
If Washington wants to be a contender in the NFC, making a splash at the quarterback position is required. We are in the era of elite quarterback play being necessary to be considered a serious contender. There are three directions the Commanders can take to acquire a new quarterback: trade, free agency, and the draft.
Here are the Commanders’ options if they decide to trade for a quarterback.
Russell Wilson
Kevin Sheehan reported that Wilson would not be opposed to playing for Washington. Of course, the Seahawks would have to be willing to trade Wilson in the first place. If the Commanders trade for any quarterback, it will most likely be for Wilson. He is a player Rivera would love to have leading the team.
Wilson has been a top-five quarterback for a while, and his relationship with Seattle has been on shaky ground for a couple of years. One area Wilson has been frustrated with is the Seahawks’ inability to construct a serviceable offensive line. Washington’s offensive line was ranked 6th best by Pro Football Focus and had the 4th highest pass-blocking grade.
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is technically an option, but I find it very unlikely he ends up in Washington, as he will almost certainly stay in Green Bay or go to a team that is seen as a contender (Denver, Tennessee, Tampa Bay).
Rodgers is a four-time MVP (assuming he wins it this year) and one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in NFL history. However, he has legitimate issues as a leader and teammate. His deficiency in these qualities has played a significant factor in him only winning/appearing in one Super Bowl. Seeing how Rodgers goes about his business makes me believe Rivera would want to pursue other options at quarterback.
Deshaun Watson
The Deshaun Watson issue has been lingering for a couple of years. He sat out the entire year as he refuses to play for Houston. His legal situation is the only reason why he hasn’t been moved yet. A report came out a few months ago saying Watson would not want to be traded to Washington.
Deshaun Watson, when playing, is a top-five quarterback. His 92.5 grade in 2020 was only .4 lower than Mahomes’ 2018 MVP season. He finished the year with 36 total touchdowns, over 5,000 total yards, and only 7 interceptions. He did this with minimal talent surrounding him.
Another issue is the asking price for a potential trade. The Texans have the starting bid at three first-round picks, multiple mid-round picks, and at least one starting player. Rivera might not want to give up all of his assets for a player who might not even be able to play.
Jimmy Garoppolo
Now that Trey Lance will be taking the reins in San Francisco, Garoppolo will be on the move. Reports say the 49ers want a second-round pick for him. Jimmy G has been a strange story in the NFL. After sitting behind Brady for four years, he got his chance to be an NFL starter.
Garoppolo, at times, has looked like a solid starting quarterback. In 2017, he managed an 86.6 grade in his first five games for San Francisco. In 2019, his 77.3 grade was enough to get the 49ers to the Super Bowl. However, injuries and inconsistent play have landed him in a tough situation. His 50.2 grade in the postseason this year will make plenty of teams hesitant to make a deal for him.
Conclusion
Russell Wilson should be Washington’s first option this offseason. He would fit seamlessly into this offense and what Rivera is trying to build. He has proven to win despite not having talent surrounding him. Rodgers is the least likely to come to Washington, and I have serious doubts he could help this team win a Super Bowl due to his history in the playoffs and lack of leadership.
Deshaun Watson would solve Washington’s quarterback issue for the next 10+ years. However, Rivera will likely pass on him due to his trade price and off-field legal issues. Jimmy Garoppolo is a very realistic option this offseason and one Commander fans would despise. Despite having some success, Jimmy G is unreliable and would cost at least a second-rounder to acquire him.
The only thing for certain in Washington is the Commanders will have a new signal-caller under center in 2022.
