Widely expected to draft a passer with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, the Commanders are adding a veteran to the mix. Quarterback Marcus Mariota is set to join Washington on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact has a base value of $6MM and can be worth up to $10MM, he adds. 
Mariota’s journeyman status will continue with this pact. Washington will represent the fourth different team in as many years for the former No. 2 pick. After his run as the Titans’ starter came to an end in 2019, he had a two-year stint with the Raiders. That was followed by one-year pacts in Atlanta and Philadelphia, with the Falcons being the only team to provide a starting opportunity during that stretch.
The 30-year-old’s play in Atlanta came to an end under unusual circumstances. Mariota left the team before ultimately undergoing knee surgery. His performance and health status limited him to a one-year accord with the Eagles, although he has landed more money upfront and a higher maximum value this time around. The Oregon alum played in three games last season, attempting 23 passes. Easton Stick – a familiar face for new Eagles OC Kellen Moore – could replace Mariota as the team’s backup, Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan notes.
The Commanders have Sam Howell on the roster, having drafted the North Carolina alum in 2022. He was handed the starting gig ahead of 2023, and for a time the 23-year-old showed flashes of potential. Things took a turn for the worse toward the end of the campaign, though, and a new general manager and head coach are in place compared to the regime which drafted him. Howell has been mentioned in trade talk with the expectation Washington would add a veteran passer before drafting either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels in April.
Having Mariota in place will no doubt lead to increased chatter regarding a deal sending Howell out of the nation’s capital. A number of teams have already made a move on the backup quarterback market, but the latter (who has two more years on his rookie contract) could still be of interest to teams looking for a developmental option. Mariota, meanwhile, will aim to lock down the backup spot in Washington with the potential to see playing time early in 2024.
Why? If they start this ass hat over Howell this year I’m done with the team. M.M has proven over the years he can’t get the job done. If he’s backing up Howell then fine. If they draft a rookie and M.M is backing him up and they move Howell somewhere for a pick, the fine. But if he’s starting over Howell, then that is just absolutely stupid.
If you’re plan is to start this guy then you’re already screwed.
It’s not as if anyone has delusions of the Commanders being a Super Bowl contender this year, and that includes the Commanders and MM and Howell. This is a stabilizing move and a reasonable one at that, especially if they will be drafting a QB.
How is this a stabilizing move? Define that for me.
UHHHH, I see….not moving forward. Stable. Got it. They don’t have to be gunning for the super bowl, but they need to show progress. This is not a progressive move.
Because they need some QB depth and you want someone like a Mariota who is not going to threaten or overly compete against a newly drafted QB that needs to be developed and a guy like MM can help with the NFL transition. This is how you make “progress” on a rebuilding team. Instead of trying to get some middling QB for tens of millions that will continue to keep your team at best a middling franchise. Who would you have them sign? Cousins? Wilson? Fields? Mariota is perfectly fine for where they are and what trying to accomplish.
Neither should be starting unless their draft pick is not ready to go right out of the box.
Mariota won’t be the starter in Washington, I can almost guarantee you. If they draft a QB with their 1st selection, he’ll start, and Mariota’s presence allows them to deal Howell. If they stick with Howell, they’ll probably allow Mariota to “compete” for the job in one of those competitions that’s not a real competition.
Whichever way they go, I think this was just a case of them wanting a veteran mentor in the QB room. Some may argue he’s not the best guy for that, and it’s an argument I can certainly understand, but you’d have to take that one up with the leadership in Washington.
Only thing is, Marietta in ATL had the deal with wanting off team to not play, if not starting. We will never know the truth of Interpersonal drama.
But who knows .
The NFL is made up of people giving mulligans to players for x but not y.
Wrong system, wrong coach,poor coach, poor teammates.
Washington: first in war, first in peace, last in the NFC East … until Daniel Jones starts falling down again.
He let us down in 2022. At least he’s collecting easy paychecks and can take care of his family
He bailed on you in 2022. Not someone I would want on my roster.
My point
I really think Washington might be doing this just to keep their options open. They need far more than a QB to contend, and this allows them to trade down if they don’t really feel those top three QB’s are worth it. They could get a ton of draft capital to help with multiple spots. If so, Mariota becomes a valuable backup/starting option if Howell stinks it up.
I don’t really see the logic of adding Mariota if they are going to draft a QB, unless they think someone will take a flier on Howell .. but the market for him would be smaller than Fields, so what’s the point. They could have just kept Howell as a cheap backup. If they do trade him, they are essentially ‘buying’ a late round pick with this move. Doesn’t seem logical, but who am I to question such a successful organization.
I think Ekeker and Mariota are a complete waste of money. The Harris group were suppose to be a big improvement over Snyder but so far they appear to be just as clueless. For the sake of fans in DC I hope I’m wrong.