TAKING STOCK: 2022 WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

BY ADAM GREENE

After sneaking into the NFL playoffs with a losing record in 2020, the Washington Nameless Ones couldn’t repeat in 2021. A lot of that was thanks to the retirement of Alex Smith and the injury to his replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick. While former AAF quarterback Taylor Heinicke played fine, and certainly proved he deserves a job in the NFL, the lack of a starting caliber signal caller, more than any other hole in the team’s roster, kept the WFT from truly competing.

The offseason has come with a new nickname, the Commanders, and plenty of off the field controversy. Washington has survived that part for years, as Dan Synder is the cancerous owner that just keeps on giving. Ron Rivera, at least, is the right man to run the football side of things and, if you have a head coach, you have half of what you need.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

2021-22 Record: 7-10, third place NFC East

Playoffs: N/A

NOW WHAT?

For the Commanders, it’s all about what they can do at quarterback and lucky for them they have options. Even luckier, they’re in the NFC which could make dealing for a Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans significantly easier. Not that they’re particularly tough to deal with when it comes to trades.

FREE AGENCY

The Commanders are sitting on $30.354 million in available cap space, so if they don’t pull the trigger on a Watson trade, and considering their specific scandals, they might not want the heat associated with the former Clemson quarterback’s alleged proclivities.

Outside of Watson, there are plenty of options. Washington might be one of the few NFC teams the San Francisco 49ers might be willing to deal with in a Jimmy Garoppolo trade. This is also the best QB free agent class in years, with Marcus Mariota, Mitchell Trubisky, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and Ryan Fitzpatrick (again) are all guys that can win games in the NFL.

Of their own potentially exiting free agents, right guard Brandon Scherff is the only one that should be a high priority to keep. They need to add at least one WR2 in free agency and a guy like Sammy Watkins, Chris Conley or Byron Pringle could fit that spot.

DRAFT

In my mock draft, I had Washington selecting Kenyon Green, offensive lineman out of Texas A&M with the No. 11 overall pick. There’s a chance the Commanders might be the first team to turn in a quarterback card, but with this class, and a team that could be a winner this season, it would be smarter to wait until Round Two and nab a guy like Sam Howell out of North Carolina or Desmond Ridder from Cincinnati.

NFC EAST

Two teams from the NFC East made the playoffs last season for the good it did either of them. Both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles made a quick exit in the postseason. Neither have a firm grasp on either spot and Washington, with Rivera calling the shots, has the coaching edge. If they can get manageable quarterback play, they too can be soundly defeated in the opening round of the playoffs in the 2022-23 season.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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