The Washington Redskins seemingly have a question at the quarterback position that they need to answer during the 2020 offseason.
That doesn’t mean that they are unsure of who their starting QB may be — it seems safe to say that the Redskins will likely stick with rookie QB Dwayne Haskins going forward, even though new coach Ron Rivera stopped shy of naming him the QB1 when introduced to the team. Rather, the team needs to figure out what to do at the backup QB position.
With Case Keenum and Colt McCoy both set to become free agents once their contracts run out this spring, Washington will be left with a few options to fill the position. While it’s still a possibility — and probably the smartest course of action — that the Redskins sign either veteran QB to a cheap contract for the 2020 season and beyond, it feels likely that the two QBs who rode the pine in Washington would rather test their chances elsewhere.
That leaves free agency or the NFL Drat to find a QB2. With that being said, here are a few names to potentially keep an eye out to be added to the QB room in Washington.
Brett Hundley — Arizona Cardinals
Hundley was a solid prospect coming out of UCLA in 2015, and he served as the backup for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay during the 2017 season where Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. The results weren’t great, but that’s why he’s a backup.
Now in Arizona, Hundley has served as a valued member of the QB room behind rookie Kyler Murray, and he is said to have helped in the former Heisman-winner’s growth over the 2019 season. He also looked like a serviceable option in the single game that he played in place of Murray this past season, throwing for 49 yards with 35 more on the ground.
If the Redskins were able to convince Hundley to come to Washington, he would undoubtedly be able to help spur on the growth of Haskins, and he could also get the team out of a jam if called upon.
Jeff Driskel — Detroit Lions
Driskel did what any solid backup quarterback is supposed to do during the 2019 season; he stepped in for an injured Matthew Stafford and performed well enough to put the team in a position to win the game. Though the Lions were 0-3 in games with Driskel under center this past season, they had a chance to win both games, and the backup put up decent stats while doing so.
After Stafford went down with an injury in Week 9, Driskel stepped in and threw for 269 yards, one TD and one INT in a 20-13 loss to the Chicago Bears. In Week 11, he threw for 209 yards and two TDs, plus 51 yards rushing and a TD, in a 35-27 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Driskel clearly has the talent to get the job done when called upon. The Redskins should feel confident in handing him the keys to the offense, should Haskins be unable to go for a game or two.
Nate Sudfeld — Philadelphia Eagles
The Redskins are familiar with Sudfeld, as they waived him a couple of years ago just a year removed from drafting him with their sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Sudfeld was a part of the 2017 Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles team, and he took over for the team in their Week 17 bout with the Dallas Cowboys — a 6-0 defeat — while then starter Nick Foles rested up for the playoffs. Sudfeld played well in the game despite having no numbers to show for it.
While there are definitely more talented options that the Redskins could choose to go with, their previous knowledge of Sudfeld might aid in the scouting process. They watched him play in the preseason for them in 2016, and they may feel comfortable bringing him back in on a cheap contract.
Chase Daniel — Chicago Bears
Daniel is seen as one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league, and he’s proved to be pretty effective when called upon. In three games during 2019, Daniel completed 45 of 64 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns.
While he’s spent most of his career as a backup, Daniel has been paid handsomely for his services, which might put him a bit out of the Redskins price range. In 2019, he was paid $5 million in Chicago, and he’s likely to receive another lucrative QB2 deal due to his ability to keep a team afloat when something goes wrong in the starting lineup.
