North Englewood, Maryland (PSF) — The Washington Commanders enter the 2023 offseason in a familiar place. They are coming off a season in which they were unable to make the playoffs, and there is great uncertainty surrounding their quarterback situation.

The team experimented with several options throughout the course of the 2022 season, with Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, and Sam Howell all receiving playing time. Though the offense had its moments, the season did little to dispel the concerns about the team’s quarterback room. The 2023 offseason has no shortage of intriguing options at quarterback. Derek Carr was recently released from the Las Vegas Raiders and is free to sign anywhere, and Aaron Rodgers has been rumored to be available via trade. 

However, neither of these options appears to be realistic. Both Rodgers and Carr would have to go out of their way to go to Washington, which doesn’t seem very likely given the team’s current trajectory. This leaves Washington poised for another bid at a bridge quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield are just a couple of examples of quarterbacks who seem to be more of the Commanders’ speed.

I believe Washington’s best option is currently sitting in their QB room, Sam Howell. The 2022 draft pick played sparingly in his rookie season but was once a highly touted draft prospect. This is not necessarily a case for Sam Howell as much as it’s one against all of the Commanders’ other quarterback options. Ideally, a team’s starting quarterback should be one who is either very good or has the potential to be good. Howell’s youth gives him a chance at being the latter, and given Washington’s draft position, it’s unlikely they go after a quarterback in the early rounds.

Ron Rivera’s days are looking numbered, and what he does at quarterback for 2023 could ultimately decide his fate. That’s why Sam Howell should be a serious candidate