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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ivan Lambert

Add Carson Wentz to long Washington QB list

Carson Wentz unfortunately joined the long list of Washington quarterbacks who experienced much disappointment.

In 1994, though he was drafted third overall in the draft, because Norv Turner wanted him, Heath Shuler was simply in over his head. He was a huge disappointment.

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Jeff George was the mega-hyped free-agent signing by Daniel Snyder in 2000. But George disappointed, not improving the offense and was actually released early in his second season by Marty Schottenheimer.

Patrick Ramsey was a first round choice (32nd) in 2002 out of Tulane. In four seasons, Ramsey passed for 34 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

Mark Brunell came in 2004, immediately revealing he was a shell of what he had been — a dynamic, mobile quarterback earlier in his career. Brunell did have some fine games in 2005 but was having difficulty staying healthy.

Jason Campbell was the 25th overall selection in the 2005 draft (Aaron Rodgers was taken 24th). Campbell often could move the team up and down the field until he reached the red zone, where he encountered problems.

Donovan McNabb came in a 2010 trade with the Eagles. If McNabb had been an efficient quarterback, why would Andy Reid have traded him to a divisional rival?

Rex Grossman loved to sling it as the 2011 starter, but the results were often not advantageous, so the owner traded 3 first-round choices and a second-round choice to select a Baylor rookie though he had won the Heisman Trophy, had not proven he could play in the pocket in college.

Robert Griffin III had a remarkably fun season in his rookie year, running the Shanahan zone-read offense. But following his bad knee injury, Griffin refused to run the offense that made him successful and never developed as a pocket passer in Washington or anywhere else.

Alex Smith was traded for in 2018 to help fans forget Kirk Cousins passing for over 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. But Smith struggled, seemed to check down an awful lot, and sadly experienced a gruesome injury against the Texans.

Case Keenum was traded for in 2019 to replace the horribly-injured Smith. Keenum led the team in passing with only 1,707 yards. The other quarterback seeing action was Dwayne Haskins because Mr. Snyder insisted he would be the 15th overall selection in the draft. It was a dismal 3-13 season and Haskins was cut during the 2020 season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was signed to be the veteran who would manage games and bring a winner to Washington.  He injured his hip and never played after the first quarter of the opener.

Washington was the third team for Carson Wentz in three seasons. Wentz never looked comfortable. All season he was a model teammate but a struggling quarterback.

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