The Washington Commanders are a team that everyone is keeping an eye on when it comes to the quarterback market this offseason. Taylor Heinicke is entering free agency and it seems like a foregone conclusion that Carson Wentz will be joining him in the near future on the market.
That leaves 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell as the only quarterback currently under contract for the 2023 season. Howell looked pretty good in the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, leading the Commanders to a win in his first career start.
Right now, the plan is for Howell to be the team’s starter in 2023 according to head coach Ron Rivera. Based on the roster, he is the only option right now but that will likely change. The Commanders will almost assuredly look into bringing in an experienced backup with Heinicke looking likely to sign elsewhere in free agency.
But, if the opportunity arose for a bonafide upgrade, it would be hard to imagine the Commanders not at least checking in. One player who they should at least do their due diligence with is Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.
Jackson’s free agency is one that will captivate the football world. He and the Ravens have been unable to work out a long-term deal and will try again this offseason.
Baltimore can use the franchise tag on him, but he is deserving of a long-term deal and should do whatever it takes to secure one. Jackson has earned it with his level of play but with his last two seasons ending because of injury, he needs to cash in.
If Jackson is ready to move on, we could see a similar situation to what Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans went through as he sat out until a trade was made. A tag-and-trade also occurred between the Green Bay Packers and Davante Adams during the 2022 offseason and that is another route that the Ravens could take.
If Jackson is made available, the Commanders should check in on how much it would cost. They may be fans of Howell, but Jackson would be a legitimate game-changer for a team that fell just short of the playoffs this past season.
Acquiring him will be costly. Not only will it cost a ton of money to sign him to a new contract, but the Ravens will seek compensation as well. It will take multiple first-round picks to acquire him and given the talent already on the roster, ownership could convince themselves that the Commanders are a quarterback away from truly contending.
Jackson could be that quarterback to take them over the top. To land him, Washington can offer Baltimore their first-round pick in 2023 and 2024 along with a second-round pick in 2024 and 2025.
That is a steep price, but the Commanders would be contenders in the NFC with Jackson leading the offense. The pieces are in place for that unit to be one of the most explosive in the league and the Louisville product is capable of elevating the team to that level.
Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel would be the best weapons Jackson has had to throw the ball to in his career. Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson lead a strong backfield behind a good offensive line.
Defensively, the Commanders have top-of-the-league-level upside, ranking inside the top 10 last season. Add Jackson to that mix and Washington could be among the true contenders in the NFC in 2023.
