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When Washington head coach Ron Rivera met with the media Saturday evening to discuss the Commanders’ draft class, one thing stood out in discussing new quarterback Sam Howell.
Washington, which drafted Howell at No. 144 overall, now has three quarterbacks on the roster: Starter Carson Wentz, last season’s starter, Taylor Heinicke, and Howell.
In discussing Howell and the value he presented to Washington, Rivera said he also spoke to Wentz before the Commanders drafted Howell.
I had an opportunity to talk with Carson before we made the pick; I wanted to make sure he understood that this is just all about developing a young guy more so than anything else,” Rivera said.
“He’s our number one going forward, and he just appreciated the fact that I gave him the heads up, which I thought was really cool. He was actually pretty excited because he just thinks that there are a lot of good things about Sam.”
Interesting. First, it’s a good thing Rivera called Wentz and told him Washington was adding a quarterback and that Wentz was “excited” to work with Howell.
However, why should the coach feel the need to reach out to his new quarterback to inform him the team was taking a rookie in the fifth round?
This shouldn’t be a big deal. I doubt Wentz is concerned with Howell, as Rivera and Washington have done everything to make him feel comfortable and wanted. But everyone remembers when Wentz was upset when the Eagles selected Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
This one is different. Howell was NOT a second-round pick. While many believed he was at the least a second-round talent, the Commanders weren’t picking him until the value became too great to ignore.
No one outside of Washington media and fans understands quarterback controversies better. What happens when Wentz has his first two-interception game? Will fans clamor for Howell? We’ve seen this story many times through the years.
Ultimately, it shouldn’t matter. If Wentz can’t handle Washington adding a fifth-round rookie, you know he’s not your guy anyway.