Tag: Washington Commanders 2022 Draft

Sam Howell kept Commanders fans at FedEx Field Saturday

It was an outstanding debut for Commanders’ rookie QB Sam Howell.

Sam Howell is off to a good start.

In his first NFL preseason action for the Washington Commanders on Saturday, Howell completed 9 of 16 passes for 145 yards and no interceptions. Howell also rushed for two touchdowns (17 yards and 1 yard).

Howell said he was pleased to lead to two scores but also realized he could have done more.  “I try to do what I can and execute on every single play that’s called. I think I definitely left some plays out there though and there’s some things I can improve on and build on from this game, so I just can’t wait to watch the film and get back to work.”

With the Commanders trailing 20-6,  from the Carolina 17 on a 1st & 10, Howell dropped back, looked left, then took off up the middle, making a DB miss, and scored untouched. “I didn’t really see anything open, but I saw a little hole, so I just tried to tuck it, run it, and make a play. I ran the ball a lot in college, so it’s something I’m kind of used to.”

Though the North Carolina rookie QB had some success he also admitted he was surprised as well. “The speed of the game, for sure. You can see it in practice, but you can’t really see it until you get to the games. I would definitely say just the speed of the game (surprised me).”

Howell felt himself needing to get adjusted early. “I was comfortable after I completed a couple of passes, and with some of the more ‘down the field’ passes, I felt pretty comfortable with those.”

The Commanders’ fifth-round draft choice in April’s 2022 NFL draft said he definitely noticed the home team fan’s support and aspires to do well.  “It’s awesome. Every opportunity I get I’m going to try to take advantage of it and do my best for this organization. That’s what they drafted me here to do, and I’m going to try and continue to get better. I’m gonna give this organization all I got.”

Sam Howell compared to Mayfield and Manziel?

One former NFL QB compares Sam Howell to Baker Mayfield and……Johnny Manziel.

A quarterback being compared to Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel is certainly not flattering.

That is what new Washington quarterback Sam Howell encountered on Monday’s edition of Pro Football Talk hosted by Mike Florio and Chris Simms.

Florio opened pointing out that prior to the 2021 season beginning, Howell was being touted as the first quarterback to be drafted in 2022, but Howell was the sixth taken and not until the 5th round. Yet he understood Howell could possibly be developed as a possible successor to Carson Wentz.

Simms declared Howell was smart, having the highest Wonderlic test score amongst quarterbacks at this year’s NFL combine. He also praised Howell as not being raw like Malik Willis but clearly going through his reading progressions in the pocket during passing plays.

“But the throwing has issues,” expressed Simms. “Listen, I will go to the NFL combine. He threw two out routes and bounced them there. I’ve never really seen a really good quarterback bounce out routes when there was nobody playing defense. There is some issue there with his mechanics.”

“He is Baker Mayfield-like. He scrambles, he is tough, he has some moxie and all that. But I don’t know if his game translates to the NFL. He has some refining to do. But, I think it is a good pick in the fifth round by Washington. He is one of those guys who does have some potential and maybe they do have something to work with here.”

“He has a thick build to him, a thick lower half that allows him to break tackles. But at the same time, he scrambles and takes too many sacks, and I don’t know if that scrambling he got away with in college like Johnny Manziel, it’s not going to translate into the NFL. And that is why he was probably still on the board at the 5th round.”

Well, Sam Howell, will have plenty of time to prove he is not the immature, overrated players Manziel and thus far Mayfield have been.

 

Instant analysis: Washington selects two in 7th round

Washington adds a versatile offensive lineman and a cornerback with its final two selections.

The Washington Commanders closed out their 2022 NFL Draft by making two selections in the 7th (final) round.

At No. 230 the Commanders selected Tulsa Guard 6-foot-4 323 pound Chris Paul.

Paul has experience playing both guard and tackle. One can easily imagine hearing Ron Rivera’s voice in the draft room, “Paul has position flex.” Here is Paul at 323 running the 40 at the Combine.

At No. 240, Washington selected Oklahoma State CB Christian Holmes (6-1, 205).

Holmes is physical, coming up with force when sitting in his zone. However, his man coverage is why he lasted until the 240th selection. Holmes a 5th-year senior, started all 13 games for the Cowboys (Big 12 Conference).

However, Holmes tested to be a good athlete, accumulating a 9.1 on the Relative Athletic Score.

Consequently, might Washington perhaps attempt to convert him to Free Safety and see if he can develop in that role?

Instant analysis: Washington selects Cole Turner at No. 149

Cole Turner is an intriguing fifth-round selection for the Commanders.

With Logan Thomas rehabbing a torn ACL, the Washington Commanders selected Cole Turner with the 149th pick in Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Turner, out of Nevada, met with Washington for a private workout recently, along with Nevada quarterback Carson Strong. Turner was actually a wide receiver then transitioned to tight end.

Anyone watching Carson Wentz while a Philadelphia Eagle, recalls Wentz loved to throw to his tight ends. Turner brings a big target to the Washington offense measuring 6-foot-6 and 246 pounds.

He only ran a 4.76 40 yard dash.  Yet, Turner does seem to be a natural pass-catching tight end on film and could become productive in the red zone for the Commanders. During his senior season at Nevada, Turner collected 62 receptions for 677 yards and 10 touchdown receptions.

When looking at the film of Turner running routes and catching passes, older Washington fans may be reminded of former Washington TE Clint Didier. Didier was 6-foot-5, 240 pounds and in his six seasons as a Redskin, caught 129 passes for 1,815 yards and 19 touchdown receptions, averaging 14.1 yards per reception.

Washington was selecting No. 149 because they had traded No. 120 to Carolina for the No. 144 and 149 selections. With 144, the Commanders took UNC QB Sam Howell and then Turner at 149.

 

 

 

Instant analysis: Washington selects Sam Howell at No. 144

Sam Howell was a steal for the Washington Commanders in round five.

Looking for quarterback depth, the Washington Commanders selected North Carolina’s Sam Howell with the 144th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Washington had actually owned the No. 120 pick but traded back with (pause) you guessed it, the Carolina Panthers, enabling the Commanders to launch the 5th round with the opening pick.

Howell is reunited with former Tar Heel and current Commander wide receiver Dyami Brown, taken in the third round of the 2021 draft.

Howell threw 92 TD passes to only 23 interceptions at UNC and became the sixth quarterback drafted in this year’s rookie class.

Howell is tough physically and mentally, not afraid to run and throws a nice long ball as well. Washington fans will love to see his long ball next preseason.

The Patriots having chosen QB Bailey Zappe late in the 4th round, surprisingly meant Howell was still available for Washington. Coach Ron Rivera had said all along, he would like to have Wentz, Heinicke and a rookie. He probably never dreamed it would be Sam Howell at No. 144.

Great value, great potential this late in the draft. Rivera, Mayhew and Hurney could not pass up Howell.

Commanders NEED to trade down in 2022 NFL draft

The Commanders should move down at every opportunity to add multiple picks in this year’s draft. Of course, you need a trade partner.

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The Washington Commanders really need to trade down in the upcoming 2022 NFL draft.

When Washington wanted Carson Wentz so badly, was it necessary to relinquish a 2022 third-round draft pick, a 2023 third-round pick that is conditional and is most likely to become second-round pick? Was it also necessary, that the Commanders allowed Colts GM Chris Ballard to talk them into swapping down from the No. 42 overall selection Friday to the No. 47 selection? Even more, did Ballard also get his way, when Washington agreed to take on Wentz’s entire salary for the next three seasons?

Colts owner Jim Irsay had already laid down the gavel to Ballard and head coach Frank Reich that Irsay did not want Wentz back for 2022. Thus Ballard “HAD” to trade Wentz.

This means Washington does not presently own an opportunity to select a player in either the third or fifth rounds of this year’s draft. You recall in the 2021 NFL draft Washington sent this year’s fifth-round pick to the Eagles for a sixth-round pick (225) and a seventh-round pick (240). With those two picks, Washington selected Cameron Cheeseman and William-Bradley King.

In addition, Washington’s strongest position last year was defensive tackle. The team exhibited strength and depth with Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle. However, they failed to sign Tim Settle, and he signed a two-year deal for only $9 million with Buffalo. Washington then released Ioannidis “after” losing Settle.

Was Washington actually negotiating with Settle, attempting to keep him? He signed quickly for a price Washington could have easily matched or bettered, had they released Ioannidis just days earlier.

Without a third-round and fifth-round pick, Washington still has two options. They have the No. 11 and No. 47 overall selections.  They desperately need to add a strong inside defensive tackle in this draft. They might also like to draft a quarterback as well to see how he develops in the next few seasons.

Consequently, Washington could trade down from No. 11 overall, still remain in the first round, and easily pick up an extra draft pick or two. They could also trade down from No. 47 adding a draft pick as well.

Yes, Washington landed an upgrade at quarterback in Wentz. And yes, they also still have the opportunity in front of them in this week’s draft to trade down and meet other roster needs that should be addressed.

Two things will need to be present: a team wanting badly enough to trade up and Washington wanting badly enough to trade down to obtain a few more draft picks.