The Washington Commanders added a veteran quarterback on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Marcus Mariota.
No big deal, right?
Mariota joins a roster that features 2023 starter Sam Howell (entering his third season) and Jake Fromm. Washington is widely expected to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Mariota’s signing could give us an indication of which way the Commanders are leaning.
Mariota, like LSU quarterback Daniels, is a former Heisman Trophy winner. Mariota won the award in 2014 for his ability as a dual-threat passer for Oregon. Daniels won it in 2023, passing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, only four interceptions and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Does this tell us that GM Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury already have a preference?
Daniels is a far more advanced passer than Mariota was at any time. However, Kingsbury made it clear how important mobility is for the quarterback position.
Signing Mariota doesn’t necessarily mean Washington wants Daniels over Drake Maye. And here’s another thing that’s often lost: Drake Maye is exceptionally athletic, too.
On Monday, it was revealed the Commanders were checking in on Sam Darnold as a potential veteran option. Darnold is not known for his mobility. He eventually signed with the Vikings for a chance to start.
While on the surface, it would appear that Mariota’s signing would mean Washington is leaning toward Daniels, that’s far from a certainty. Several NFL teams don’t need the backup quarterback’s skills to mirror the starting quarterback. The Commanders aren’t running an option offense. Daniels and Maye are both passers first who can run.
So while it’s easy to draw in the blanks and think Mariota automatically means Daniels is coming to Washington, slow down. There’s a long way to go until the first round of next month’s 2024 NFL draft.
The more immediate thought is, what does this mean for Howell?
