When it comes to veteran quarterbacks, the Washington Commanders are always interested. One year ago, head coach Ron Rivera called multiple teams, inquiring about a veteran quarterback. Among those quarterbacks were Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. The Packers weren’t trading Rodgers, and Wilson didn’t want to come to Washington.
The Commanders flirted with trading for Jimmy Garoppolo, but his shoulder injury scared them away. That led to Washington trading for Carson Wentz. That didn’t turn out so well.
Now that the offseason is here, there could be more quarterback movement. Washington will release Wentz; it’s only a matter of when. While head coach Ron Rivera has publicly committed to Sam Howell as the quarterback for 2023 — at least heading into the offseason — you can never rule out Washington’s pursuit of a veteran.
The Raiders officially released Derek Carr on Tuesday. There’s also the possibility that Green Bay will trade Rodgers this offseason. Washington’s ownership situation makes its pursuit of an expensive veteran unlikely this time around, but you never know.
Assuming Rodgers is traded, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently ranked nine potential Rodgers destinations. Yes, Washington is on the list, coming in at No. 5.
Always open for veteran QB business, they have the skill weapons and defense to stay in the playoff mix. What they don’t have, as usual, is a true franchise signal-caller, with Carson Wentz bound to be cut and Sam Howell boasting a single NFL start. The cap space is a concern, but if the respected Ron Rivera is still in charge, he could be a real draw for a longtime vet like Rodgers.
The Jets came in at No. 1, followed by the Raiders, Titans and Packers.
Washington’s roster actually makes plenty of sense for Rodgers. If the ownership situation wasn’t up in the air and the Commanders had an offensive coordinator, they should be higher on this list. Nonetheless, don’t expect Washington to be involved in the bidding.
