2023 marked Sam Howell‘s first season as the full-time starter for the Commanders. His level of play has taken a downturn recently, meaning his grip on the No. 1 role heading into next season could be less tenuous than it was this past offseason. 
The Commanders elected to release Carson Wentz after the 2022 campaign, and they declined to bring in an expensive addition to replace him. That decision – coupled with the lack of draft investment at the QB position – paved the way for Howell to spend the season atop the depth chart. The 2022 fifth-rounder has started every game this season, but the results have been varied.
Howell has thrown for 300 or more yards five times this year, showing signs of promise as a rusher by adding a pair of 35-plus-yard performances on the ground along the way. However, the North Carolina alum has thrown eight interceptions over the past five games, tossing only two touchdowns during that stretch. In each of the past two contests, veteran Jacoby Brissett has taken over for Howell and provided a spark on offense.
Given Howell’s inconsistent play, Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports the Commanders are likely to bring in competition for the starting role in the 2024 offseason. Brissett has logged 48 starts during his journeyman career, but he was always seen as an insurance policy more than a genuine threat to Howell for the No. 1 gig. The latter is not in danger of being let go, of course, since his rookie contract runs through 2025.
However, it would come as little surprise if Washington elected to hold an open competition under center this offseason. Brissett is a pending free agent, so the team will need to add another option at the position via trade, free agency or the draft if he is not retained. The 4-11 Commanders are on track to have a high first-round draft pick, but they may find themselves out of reach for top options Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
Another major factor in this situation, of course, is the uncertainty the Commanders face on the sidelines and in the front office. New owner Josh Harris is widely expected to dismiss head coach Ron Rivera, and general manager Martin Mayhew is also on the hot seat. New decision-makers will need to be in place before a direction is chosen as it pertains to the quarterback position.
In any event, the Commanders are projected to be among the league leaders in cap space this offseason, giving them flexibility ahead of an important roster-building stretch. Whether or not competition for Howell is brought in will be a key storyline in the nation’s capital.
Penix with the Commanders could become a real possibility.
They ain’t drafting him at 3… maybe top of 2nd rd
Penix is a top 10
Caleb and Maye are top 2
Penix is 3rd
Not a believer in Daniels only 1 year of production and he didn’t play well against FSU and Bama. He stat padded a lot of games against bad and barely average teams. Some team likely takes him in the 20s
Bo Nix maybe end of 1st
Daniels had one year of production?!? That’s straight incorrect. You look at what he did at Arizona State and that’ll show you how good he was.
I did watch some of his AZ St games, was not impressed and viewed him as a 4th rounder at best.
So glad you watched some of his AZ games.
Penix isn’t going second
I think Howell has a definite ceiling, but I don’t think all of his struggles land on him. Washington hasn’t really put him in a position to be successful. He falls into the category of QB’s who isn’t talented enough to put the team on his back and overcome shortcomings in other areas.
Washington probably needs a new coaching staff and scheme more than they need another QB.
When I see the backup QB come in and easily outplay the starter, I suspect the offensive scheme has become too too complex and it functions better when scaled back for the backup.
If the staff is fired, Bienenmy will be free to go back to KC if they give him more say. If they continue to under perform on offense Nagy may get replaced.
Absolutely correct. I was pulling for Bienemy to succeed as OC but he has placed far too much on Howell. There’s no balance to the offense and you’re asking a virtual rookie Qb to drop back 45 times a game behind our joke of an offensive line. Add to that the fact that he knows every game our defense is likely to give up 30 plus points and that only adds to the pressure. I still believe Howell has the skills to be a franchise level QB with better support from the coaching staff and the players surrounding him.
Totally agree! The Washington offense isn’t a desirable one and I believe EB squeezed the most out of it in his first year. Howell will start somewhere next season I believe
Not
The owner maybe the one dumb enough to trade for Kyler and bail out AZ.
He did think Joe Buck wanted a handshake when he was simply just talking with his hands.
Not
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand you have to run the ball to at least get a little balance. Pass it 50 times a game and you get teed off on like what’s been happening. Again any coach worth his salt knows that!
Better draft the O-Line 1st and maybe 2nd also.
Drafting a top QB without improving that O-line is a sure-fire recipe to repeating Carolina’s “success” this year. Despite what people think about Bryce Young, he wouldn’t be this bad if he had just a bit more time to process what’s in front of him.
Maybe a season with a better coaching staff and an offensive line to help Howell is the best option. Brissett isn’t the answer.
They will overpay Chicago for Fields when the Bears draft a new QB after they fire everyone.
Lol
Being drafted by a team that offers you the chance to get sacked over 60 times a season is the dream of every college QB prospect.
Many of those sacks were brought upon himself, which is typical with young QBs. They tend to hold the ball too long always looking to make the big play. I know the dink and dunks aren’t sexy, but they get the job done. Many of the best QBs in history just took what was given by the D. Staying away from negative plays and ball control will get you more wins.
Perhaps the Commies can trade for Tommy DeVito of the Giants now that he was exposed in Philly on Xmas Day. He’ll only cost a 3rd-day draft pick or two.
Drake Maye is a possibility if they get #3 and the Cardinals stay at #2. The Bears will not pass on Caleb Williams unless Fields miraculously leads them into the playoffs, in which case they’d try to trade down. The Cardinals will not give up on Murray yet and will likely draft Marvin Harrison Jr who could be a generational talent.
That’s a good point about Cards. The only QB I’d want Wash to take in 1st is Maye unless they trade down. Other wise take either LT from Penn State or Notre Dame, then get a QB in 2nd (or trade back into low 1st) – Pennix or McCarthy. Howell is in Wash 2 more seasons on a cheap rookie deal. Next season if he can beat out the rookie, so be it.
Harrison said he’s staying one more year
I highly doubt that. It would be foolish to not get the clock running on your life changing lucrative second pro contract.
He isn’t practicing for the bowl and likely not playing…that is an indicator he is going pro.
Russell Wilson.
Sam Howell’s case to be the team’s franchise QB seems to have evaporated with the play of journeyman Brissett – who has made the same tepid offense look potent in his 2+ quarters of play.
‘Skins defense is bottom of the league and y’all want them to draft a QB? Such shall ensure Washington will always be first in war, first in peace, last in the NFC East.
Josh Harris brought in Eugene Shen for a reason. He did the data analysis for the Ravens when they drafted Lamar Jackson, Dolphins when they drafted Tua, and Jacksonville when they drafted Trevor Lawernce. Rumor has it that Shen was the trigger for the D trades as well, and it has been a while since the Raves staff has been poached.
Willing to bet that the Commanders will hire a run orientated young coach, trade down in the draft, bring in Tyler Huntley, and a TE that is willing to get dirty.