D4 EZ SU THE WASHINGTON POST.SUNDAY, MARCH 6 , 2022
R
on Rivera has said “nothing is out of the question” when it comes to finding a new starting quarterback. After
cycling through six starters since he arrived in 2020, the Washington Commanders head coach seems poised
to move on to No. 7 and hand the keys to another veteran or a rookie. The goal has always been to find a long-
term solution. But as Rivera discovered in his latter years with the Carolina Panthers and has found in Wash-
ington, the teams that win and win consistently are generally the ones with top-tier quarterbacks. “I’ll point to the fact
that our first season here when we moved some people around and Alex Smith came in and we really saw that develop-
ment and growth,” Rivera said recently. “That to me is what a good quarterback can do for you, is he elevates the play of
the people around him. He manages the games, he distributes the ball and, when needed, makes plays. That’s what you
look for. That’s what you’ve got to have.” The question is whether the Commanders can find that this year. While their
options appear simple — trade for a veteran, sign a free agent, draft a rookie or maintain the status quo with Taylor Hei-
nicke — each one is complicated by uncertainties and, of course, cost. Here’s a closer look at some of their options:SEARCHING FOR
THE COMMANDERS’
NEXT QUARTERBACK
BY NICKI JHABVALA AND SAM FORTIERMatt Corral, 23
College: MississippiYear/experience: Redshirt junior, 27 startsWhy him: He’s a good athlete with a strong arm
and sharp mind, the type of quarterback capable of
creating the off-script plays essential in the modern
NFL. Draft analysts compliment his decision-
making when he extends the play, whether to take
a shot or throw it away. His interceptions dropped
from 14 in 2020 to five in 2021 over more
attempts.Why not: There are several criticisms of Corral,
including that he didn’t play in a demanding
offense, but perhaps the most pressing is his size.
The 6-foot passer may be too slight for many
coaches. Smaller quarterbacks can undoubtedly
succeed in the NFL, but he sometimes takes
unnecessary hits. Last season, many similar-size
passers who use a heavy dose of RPOs (run-pass
options) — including Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield
and Lamar Jackson — struggled to stay healthy.Key stat: 212 pounds — Corral’s official weight
from the s couting combine, an important number
for coaches and talent evaluators.Offensive fit: C orral played in an offense with
heavy doses of RPOs, read-options and screens. No
matter which offense he lands in, it’s likely Corral
will go through some growing pains learning to
diagnose and dissect NFL defenses.What they’re saying: “Everything is just fast with
him. He processes things really fast; he has a fast
release. There’s no hesitation or wasted movement
with him. And if he has to run the football, he’s able
to do that,” said Jordan Reid, an ESPN draft
analyst. “... The biggest adjustment for him is
going to be post-snap responsibility just because
he plays in a very college-centric type of offense.”Best guess: Corral seems to be a step below Malik
Willis and Kenny Pickett in talent. But if Washington
believes Corral can hold up long term and if other
teams pick quarterbacks high this year, he could
be in play when the Commanders pick at No. 11.Jimmy Garoppolo, 30
Experience: Eight seasonsStatus: Under contract. Garoppolo has one season
left with the San Francisco 49ers, with a non-
guaranteed salary of $24.2 million.Why him: Trey Lance is waiting to take over in
San Francisco, and the 49ers would save
$25.5 million in cap space by moving Garoppolo.
For Washington, he would serve as an upgrade
over Heinicke with his experience (especially in
the postseason) and numbers; his average EPA
(expected points added) per dropback and passer
rating both ranked ninth in the league last season.
Washington may not have to give up much to get
him.Why not: He is set to have surgery on his
throwing shoulder and isn’t expected to resume
throwing again until early July. With so many
teams in need of a quarterback, Washington
might have to give up quite a bit to ward off other
suitors.Key stat: 8.64 — Garoppolo’s average yards per
attempt ranked second in the league last season.Offensive fit: The veteran pocket passer is at his
best when he’s firing off play-action passes, and he
has enough mobility to extend plays when needed.
The concern is the inconsistency, which is often a
product of poor decision-making.What they’re saying: “A lot of people need or
wantquarterbacks right now, and he’s obviously a
guy they’d look at,” 49ers General Manager John
Lynch said at the combine. “So, yes, we have
listened.”Best guess: He may not move the needle enough
to get fans flooding back to FedEx Field, and his
health is a concern. But he might be the best
available option.Sam Howell, 21
College: North CarolinaYear/experience: Junior, 37 startsWhy him: He has been compared to Cleveland
Browns quarterback M ayfield. Draft analysts often
praise Howell’s mechanics and charisma, and after
he broke out in 2020, he lost four key skill players
to the NFL and adapted by using his legs more.
During interviews with teams, Howell often has
pointed to his leadership as one of his best traits.Why not: He has been compared to Mayfield.
Despite the charisma and talent, Mayfield might
not develop into a top-12 quarterback. Scouts
question whether Howell’s production will translate
from the Tar Heels’ air-raid offense, and last
season Howell showed a worrisome tendency to
scramble quickly instead of extending the play to
throw.Key stat: 828 — the number of rushing yards
Howell had in 2021, up from 181 combined across
his first two seasons.Offensive fit: Howell’s air-raid offense at UNC was
run almost exclusively from the shotgun and
featured heavy doses of RPOs. While offensive
coordinator Scott Turner uses some RPOs in
Washington, he p robably would have to lean on
them more at first to make Howell comfortable.
During pre-draft training, Howell said he has been
working on his dropbacks from under center.What they’re saying: “[Last year], he had to put so
much on himself, and I think it was a big learning
experience for him. As far as the leadership
standpoint, you’re getting that from him but also a
player who operates really quickly, too,” ESPN’s
Reid said.Best guess: Howell is a similar prospect to Corral.
If Washington believes Howell can excel when
surrounded by talent, as he did in 2020, it may
make sense to take him with the 11th pick. But that
seems like a reach for a guy many analysts peg as
a late first-rounder.Kenny Pickett, 23
College: PittsburghYear/experience: Redshirt senior, 49 startsWhy him: Experience and readiness. Draft analysts
believe he could start right away, and while there
are questions about his ceiling, he may have the
highest floor of any passer in the class. Washington
may be willing to sacrifice potential for stability,
which has eluded Rivera at quarterback.Why not: Analysts compare Pickett to Kirk Cousins
and Derek Carr, two passers who appear stuck
between good and great. Neither has been able to
push his team deep into the playoffs. What is the
point of drafting a quarterback, especially in the
pass-happy modern era, if he may not be able to
one day lead you through the playoffs?Key stat: 1,674 pass attempts — the most of any
quarterback prospect in this year’s draft,
illustrating the large sample size teams have to be
confident in their evaluations of him.Offensive fit: Pickett excels in the pocket but
struggles to create big plays off-script like some of
the other quarterbacks in this class. Analysts
believe he improved his improvisational
playmaking this season, and at the Senior Bowl,
Pickett said one of his main goals was showing
teams he could move.What they’re saying: “He’s just different with how
quickly he operates, just getting through
progressions, getting the ball where it needs to be,”
said Daniel Jeremiah, draft analyst for NFL
Network. “He doesn’t have wow arm strength. He
doesn’t blow you away with that, but he’s got really
good vision. He throws with anticipation and
timing. I think he’d be ready to come in and play
right away.”Best guess: If Washington drafts a quarterback
and isn’t confident Malik Willis will reach his
ceiling, Pickett makes the most sense. Washington
may have to trade up for Pickett or Willis, the best
two prospects in the class.PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARTUR GALOCHA/THE WASHINGTON POST; PHOTOS B Y DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, GREGORY PAYAN, NAM Y. HUH, BUTCH DILL, ROGELIO V. SOLIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS;
CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES; AND TONI L. SANDYS/THE WASHINGTON POST.