Tag: QB Rex Grossman

Forecasting the Commanders 2024 quarterback competition

Jayden Daniels is Washington’s future. Will he start Week 1?

Of course, Jayden Daniels is the projected future starter for the Commanders, but who will start on opening day this September?

Will Daniels be ready enough to be named the opening-day starter over Marcus Mariota?

Cody Benjamin of CBSsports.com asked that question for each NFL team where he feels there will be an actual quarterback competition during this offseason leading up to the launch of the 2024 NFL season.

Quickly, the big picture is that Benjamin sees open competitions for the Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, Vikings, Patriots, Giants, and Steelers.

What does Benjamin see regarding the Commanders’ offseason competition between Daniels and Mariota?

This is the one sham competition of the bunch. But unlike in Chicago, where there is zero question about Caleb Williams’ place atop the Bears’ depth chart, both Daniels and the new Commanders regime are publicly allowing for the notion that backup Marcus Mariota is in contention for the Week 1 gig. We’ll just say this: If Mariota starts, there is something deeply wrong here. Daniels is 23, played five years of college ball and just went No. 2 overall to a roster littered with veteran additions. His electric mobility should give him an instant hold on the job.

If you are interested, here is how Benjamin projects the other starting quarterback competitions for this upcoming season.

For what it is worth, who are the last ten Commanders’ opening-day starting quarterbacks?

  • 2023     Sam Howell
  • 2022     Carson Wentz
  • 2021     Ryan Fitzpatrick
  • 2020     Dwayne Haskins
  • 2019     Case Keenum
  • 2018     Alex Smith
  • 2017     Kirk Cousins
  • 2016     Kirk Cousin
  • 2015     Kirk Cousins
  • 2014     Robert Griffin III
  • 2013     Robert Griffin III
  • 2012     Robert Griffin III
  • 2011     Rex Grossman
  • 2010     Donovan McNabb

DC Radio host declares ‘Howell won’t start in 2024’

A premature declaration after two NFL starts.

Wednesday, I found myself hoping a DC radio host was going to be dead wrong.

“The Sports Junkies” of 106.7 The Fan were disagreeing (rather strongly) regarding Washington Commanders starting quarterback Sam Howell. They couldn’t agree on how well or how badly Howell played in the Week 1 opener against the Cardinals.

Then John-Paul Flaim launched his bold declaration, “I am not changing my opinion at all. He will not be the starting quarterback next year.”

Eric Bickel strongly disagreed, supporting Howell. While “Cakes” simply declared that it is much too early to make such a declaration either way. Jason Bishop felt both positions by Flaim and Bickel were in error and time to play out.

Some of the criticism of Howell from Flaim was that Howell took too many sacks and seemed flat-footed in the pocket. He suggested some sacks were about Howell not pulling the trigger and that his sack rate was high at North Carolina.

Flaim compared Howell to Rex Grossman., expressing that Grossman was a mediocre quarterback who, at times, could make some really nice throws but other times, had acute ups and downs.

Those criticizing Howell similarly point to the context of that first game was against a team like the Cardinals, who are pretty much near or at the bottom of most current NFL power rankings.

It seems Howell showed promise during preseason games that are much slower and less intense. Thus, many were left disappointed in Howell’s Week 1 performance.

But in Week 1 in the NFL, if you had a good week, your fan base most often will exaggerate your accomplishments. If you did not have a good week, your fan base most often will bury you, making you to be much worse than you actually are.

Whatever, the declaration, “Sam Howell will not be the starter next year” is clearly premature. Howell has plenty of time to prove his unbelievers wrong. This Sunday in Denver would be a good time to start.