The Washington Commanders believe they have their starting quarterback for 2023 in the building. At least, that is the mindset they will have entering the offseason, according to head coach Ron Rivera.
Speaking with AP Pro Football Podcast, Rivera said that he considers second-year signal-caller Sam Howell as the team’s starting quarterback at the moment.
“Sam Howell is going to start out as QB1,” Rivera said. “The key to that, though, is he’s going to have to earn it to keep, that’s for darn sure.”
Despite Rivera giving Howell a vote of confidence, the Commanders are expected to be in the running for high-profile veteran quarterbacks on the market. The list includes Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, and even Aaron Rodgers.
The Commanders drafted Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and North Carolina received a chance to start the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. He led the team to a 26-6 win, passing for 169 yards and a touchdown while adding another TD on the ground. Despite the Cowboys resting their starters, Howell’s performance gave some optimism to Washington that he could be the guy they had been searching for in recent years.
Many consider that Howell is a player with a high ceiling based on the early part of his college career. He was considered a candidate for the first overall pick after his sophomore season, but a disastrous rookie year saw his draft stock plummet.
The Commanders haven’t had stability in the QB position since Kirk Cousins left in 2018 to join the Minnesota Vikings. They started seven different quarterbacks in the past three seasons besides Howell, but neither proved to be an answer.
