Have Commanders Named 2023 Starting QB?

The Washington Commanders need to find a quarterback for next season. But they might already have him under contract.

Jeremy Brener | Jan 14, 2023

The Washington Commanders have questions at quarterback and offensive coordinator going into next season, but there might be an answer already at one key position.

According to CBS Sports, the Commanders are sending out feelers for potential offensive coordinator candidates and letting them know that Sam Howell is projected to be the team's starting quarterback going into offseason workouts.

Howell, a fifth-round rookie out of North Carolina, started the team's final game last weekend against the Dallas Cowboys and showed out in his NFL debut.

In his first start, Howell sprayed the ball around, completing 11 of his 19 passes for 169 yards, and threw a touchdown and an interception. He also utilized his running ability, picking up 35 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

While there is potential for the Commanders to acquire a veteran like Derek Carr or Aaron Rodgers, going with Howell under center shows a lot of belief in their young signal-caller.

Should Howell pan out, it would be great for Washington to hit on a fifth-round quarterback. He'll make very little money over the next three seasons and it will allow the team to spend on premium players on other positions.

There is a risk given Howell's miniscule sample size, but he's done enough to at least give him the inside track at this moment in time going into the offseason.

Follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter

Get your Washington Commanders game tickets from SI Tickets HERE!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.

Follow Commander Country on Twitter.

Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the Si.com team page here

Published Jan 14, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.