The Washington Commanders have a franchise quarterback. Jayden Daniels broke numerous team and NFL records, leading Washington to its best season since 1991, which included 12 wins, two postseason road wins, and an appearance in the NFC championship game.
Outside of Daniels, the Commanders had several other heroes in 2024, including backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. Like Daniels, Mariota was a former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick. But after nine NFL seasons, he signed with Washington to serve as a mentor and backup to Daniels.
The two grew close, and Daniels often praised Mariota for helping him. In the Week 17 game against Atlanta, Mariota saw something in the defense and told Daniels during a timeout. The rookie then threw the game-winning touchdown pass to clinch a playoff berth.
Mariota appeared in three games, with two lengthy appearances. He was excellent. In a Week 18 win at Dallas, he had a clutch fourth-down run on the game-winning drive. A few plays later, Mariota found Terry McLaurin for the game-winning touchdown.
Mariota, like so many others last offseason, signed a one-year contract with the Commanders. With the way he played when he had the chance, some teams will likely want to sign him to serve as a bridge quarterback.
One of those teams could be the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders just hired Chip Kelly, Mariota’s former college coach, as their new offensive coordinator. Mariota rose to prominence with Kelly at Oregon before the coach left to become the Eagles’ head coach in 2013.
The Raiders will be signing a veteran quarterback. And whoever that quarterback is will have a chance to start. Some have linked Russell Wilson to Las Vegas due to his connection with new head coach Pete Carroll. But Mariota makes more sense because of his history with Mariota.
Mariota, 31, enjoyed his time in Washington and could return as the Commanders chase a Super Bowl next season. He embraced his role as Daniels’s backup and mentor, but he probably wants to play.
It will be interesting to see if Washington general manager Adam Peters prioritizes Mariota or looks for a cheaper option behind Daniels. Mariota’s role and leadership were an underrated part of Washington’s success in 2024.
