Three Options For The Washington Redsk-, I Mean Football Te-, I Mean The Commanders At Quarterback In 2022
Washington is close to becoming a playoff team, they just need the right quarterback at the helm.
Option One: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
It seems very certain that Russell Wilson will be shopped around this offseason to add defensive depth or draft picks as the Seahawks have eight draft picks in 2022, but no first rounder. A deal that would make Wilson the starting quarterback of the Commanders would look like Washington sending the 11th overall pick in this draft, their 2022 second round pick, their first round pick in 2023, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in exchange for Seattles Russell Wilson and a 2023 second round pick.
Wilson has good weapons in Seattle with Lockett and Metcalf, but he’s been spending the last few years of his career running for his life so a change of scenery would be nice for the Wisconsin alum. If Washington can retain Brand Scherff with their thirty million in cap space, then Wilson would actually have the chance to play behind an All Pro player. This would be enticing for both Scherff to resign and Wilson to push to get traded to Washington.
With Curtis Samuel working as a “Deebo Samuel” gadget player, Scary Terry out wide, and Antonio Gibson in the backfield, we could see a Commanders uprising in the NFC East in 2022. The division is alway ripe for the picking and with Wilson at the helm in 2022, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 12-5, 11-6 finish in D.C.
Option Two: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Panthers
If Washington doesn’t want to ship a top tier defensive tackle and multiple draft picks to Seattle in exchange for a 33 year old Russell Wilson, then they could draft Kenny Pickett 11th overall out of Pittsburgh and have Taylor Heinicke back him up.
Pickett is a dynamic and versatile quarterback that was a Heisman finalist in the 2021 college season. The Oakhurst, NJ native passed for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns while also rushing for 241 yards and 5 touchdowns as he led the Panthers to an ACC Championship. I don’t think Pickett is the best quarterback in the draft, I’d give that crown to Matt Corral, but he’s very good and should be available at eleven. I think Carolina will take Corral 6th overall and it’ll have Pickett slip into Ron Riveras hands.
There is always a gamble of taking a quarterback early on in the draft, like when Washington missed on RG3 in 2012, Dwayne Haskins in 2019, and Heath Shuler in 1994. So hopefully they don’t miss on Pickett here.
Option Three: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
Option number three definitely feels like “settling” when the top two options are tremendously fun to think about, but Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t a terrible option. Garoppolo worked with the most versatile player this past season in Deebo Samuel and now Washington offensive coordinator, Scott Turner, plans to use Curtis Samuel in the same role. Garoppolos role would essentially stay the same where he’s looking for underneath routes and getting the ball in the hands of playmakers, the only difference is he’ll be able to push the deep ball more frequently because of Scary Terry.
A package for Garoppolo would be less substantial than one for Wilson. Washington would send cornerback Kendall Fuller and their 2022 second round selection in exchange for Garoppolo. Fuller heading west fills a big need at corner for the 49ers and by not giving up the 11th overall pick, Washington can draft a corner like Sauce Gardner or Andrew Booth there.
I’d say that Washington get’s the least talented quarterback of these three options, but it’s the most advantageous deal because they hold onto their first round pick and replace a good corner with a talented young one.