NFL Analysis Network

Commanders Heavily Connected To Potential Long-Term QB

The Washington Commanders are a team many people thought would be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. They were the latest franchise to give the Carson Wentz experiment a try, but things didn’t pan out. Wentz got off to a hot start in Washington but then suffered an injury. Upon his return, the bottom fell out and the Commanders missed the playoffs.

With Taylor Heinicke becoming a free agent as well, this was as good of a time as any for them to find a quarterback upgrade. They were connected to Derek Carr in the early going, but he ended up with the New Orleans Saints. Lamar Jackson remains a free agent, but Washington hasn’t been connected to him at all.

Instead, the team is content with Sam Howell being the starter in 2023. Howell was a fifth-round pick out of North Carolina in the 2022 NFL Draft and won his only start of the season; the regular season finale against the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s certainly a surprising route for the franchise to take, especially with Eric Bieniemy coming over from the Kansas City Chiefs to be the offensive coordinator. Bieniemy essentially putting his reputation on the line with Howell and not someone who is more established is certainly risky.

But, could the Commanders have a plan up their sleeve to upgrade their quarterback room? According to Matt Miller of ESPN, Washington is the team to keep an eye on when it comes to Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker coming off the board in the first round.

“Is the “Hendon Hooker in Round 1” talk real? Yes, according to multiple scouts I spoke with this week. One league source even threw out a prediction: The Washington Commanders could take the Tennessee signal-caller at No. 16 overall.”

If the Commanders have had their eyes on Hooker all offseason, it makes sense why they didn’t more aggressively pursue some of the veterans available this offseason. Unless a team such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Minnesota Vikings jumps ahead of Washington, they will be in a great position to nab Hooker.

Before tearing his ACL late in the season, Hooker was having a Heisman-worthy year. In 11 games, he completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

The injury and his age are two knocks against Hooker, but he is a fast-rising prospect. While he isn’t mentioned among the top four with Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, he is looking like a near-lock to be the fifth quarterback off the board in the first round.

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