The Washington Commanders will head into the 2023 season with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett competing to be the team’s starting quarterback. The only other quarterback on the roster is Jake Fromm.
Regardless of how outsiders feel about Washington’s quarterback position, the team is comfortable giving Howell the opportunity to prove he can be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. If not, the Commanders have a capable veteran in Brissett who can steer the ship and keep them in playoff contention.
At some point in the 2023 NFL draft, Washington will likely target a quarterback. While they sound dismissive of a quarterback in the first round, they like Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, although it’s doubtful the Commanders would select him in the first round.
The Commanders selected Howell with the first pick of the fifth round last year. Could they find another gem in the 2023 draft?
We take a look at a quarterback Washington could target in each of the seven rounds.
1st round: Florida QB Anthony Richardson
2nd round: Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
The Commanders like Hooker, with Bieniemy attending his pro day and the team hosting him on a top 30 visit. There’s a buzz he could make it in the first round, and that buzz appears real. Don’t expect Washington to select him at No. 16. However, if Hooker is still on the board when the Commanders pick at No. 17, things will be interesting. At this point, we would know a lot about how they feel about Hooker.
For anyone thinking that Washington isn’t high on Howell if it picks Hooker, I don’t believe that. The Commanders desperately need to find a long-term answer at quarterback. And until you find that guy, you take as many shots as possible. With Hooker and Howell on the roster, you let the two young guys compete.
3rd round: None
There’s a massive dropoff from the top five quarterbacks to the rest of the class.
4th round: BYU QB Jaren Hall
Jaren Hall can play in the pocket despite being undersized. He doesn’t have a big arm, but he’s accurate. He’s one of the better quarterbacks in this class at going through his progressions, which is an important attribute at the next level.
5th round: Fresno State QB Jake Haener
Haener is similar to Hall in that he’s undersized, and his arm talent could be an issue for him at the next level. However, he can also go through his progressions and displayed an ability to create off schedule. In a way, Haener is a lot like Taylor Heinicke, which will excite some fans. He is also an excellent leader — like Heinicke. Haener will never be a full-time starter, but he has the ability to stick around on a roster.
6th round: UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Thompson-Robinson is one of the more fun quarterbacks in this class. Like Hall and Haener, size could be an issue for Thompson-Robinson, although, at 6-foot-2, he’s bigger than both. He started virtually his entire career at UCLA under Chip Kelly, improving each season. A solid athlete, Thompson-Robinson has an above-average arm and can use his legs to make plays in the passing game. A good developmental option on day three.
7th round: Louisville QB Malik Cunningham
Cunningham is small [6-foot-0, 192], but he’s a playmaker. Washington has shown an interest in Cunningham. If you’re drafting him thinking he is Lamar Jackson, he is not. However, Cunningham is an electric runner, capable of making plays in the passing game. A team drafting Cunningham would need to run a specific scheme that caters to his talents, specifically the RPO, but he’s worth taking a flier on.
