The Washington Commanders will look a lot different in 2024. They already have a new general manager in Adam Peters. Next comes a new head coach, who many believe will be Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Many believe the Commanders will also have a new quarterback. Washington holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and three quarterbacks are projected as top-five picks: Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Jayden Daniels (LSU).
Williams is widely expected to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, leaving Washington to choose between Maye and Daniels.
Where does that leave incumbent quarterback Sam Howell?
Howell showed tremendous promise through the first 10 weeks of the 2023 season. Despite taking far too many sacks, Howell was putting up big numbers while making multiple big-time throws every week.
However, things began to go wrong for Howell in Week 11. While he reduced his sacks, he began to turn the ball over every week. The Commanders also lost their final eight games, making the quarterback position the likely top priority for the new regime.
We’ve gone over why Howell has struggled. Some things were his fault, but he wasn’t helped by the coaching staff or the team around him. It was indeed a collective failure on offense for Washington in 2023.
If anything else, Howell did prove he belongs in the NFL, even if it is as a high-end backup. Those jobs pay a lot and can keep you in the league for 10-15 years.
Perhaps a new coaching staff sees Howell’s talent and believes they can get the most out of him. Could Washington draft Maye or Daniels at No. 2 and have Howell around as a backup? Sure, Howell is on a rookie contract that has two years remaining. He’s also a beloved teammate who already has a close relationship with Maye.
What if Peters and the new coaching staff want to move on from Howell and sign a veteran, perhaps Jacoby Brissett, to serve as a backup/mentor to a rookie?
Nick Shook of NFL.com recently named five quarterbacks who could be on the move in 2024. He placed Howell on that list:
Howell’s selection as Washington’s top quarterback entering the season seemed peculiar, but the 2022 fifth-rounder proved many of us (myself included) wrong for quite a while, finding success out of structure and showing some improvisational skills that made Washington an entertaining football team. His end to 2023, though, makes me worry about his future. I can see him landing with a team that needs an option — any option — and is willing to buy low with lower expectations. Or, maybe the new regime in Washington decides to give him another shot. Only time will tell.
I don’t see Peters moving on from Howell. Why would he? It’s not like he will get back a high draft pick for Howell. So why not keep him on the roster? He’s cheap, he’s proven he can play, and he has the trust of his teammates.
It’s a good bet that Washington will use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback. It’s also a good bet that Howell will be around to compete with and push the rookie passer in 2024.